The disease afflicts an estimated two million people every year.
the South was afflicted by a severe drought
Recent Examples on the WebAnd this appears to disproportionately afflict young male adults.—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes, 12 Oct. 2024 McQueen isn’t a natural director of children, but little Elliot Heffernan — dignified and memorable in his first screen performance — allows George to elude the school play stiffness that afflicts all of the other kids around him.—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2024 Pests and Problems Collards are affected by pests and diseases that afflict other members of the Brassica family.—Lauren David, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2024 Heirs’ property is an issue that disproportionately afflicts Black households, particularly in southern states.—Andrea Riquier, USA TODAY, 27 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for afflict
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Word History
Etymology
Middle English afflihten "to excite, become distressed," probably verbal derivative of affliht, aflyght "disturbed, upset," borrowed from Latin afflīctus, past participle of afflīgere "to knock or strike down, ruin, distress severely," from ad-ad- + flīgere "to strike down" — more at profligate entry 1
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