affliction
English edit
Etymology edit
From Middle English affliction, affliccioun, from Old French afliction, borrowed from Latin afflīctiōnem, from affligere, whence English afflict.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
affliction (countable and uncountable, plural afflictions)
- A state of pain, suffering, distress or agony.
- 1781, [Mostyn John Armstrong], History and Antiquities of the County of Norfolk. Volume IX. Containing the Hundreds of Smithdon, Taverham, Tunstead, Walsham, and Wayland, volume IX, Norwich: Printed by J. Crouse, for M. Booth, bookseller, →OCLC, page 51:
- BEAT on, proud billows; Boreas blow; / Swell, curled waves, high as Jove's roof; / Your incivility doth ſhow, / That innocence is tempeſt proof; / Though ſurly Nereus frown, my thoughts are calm; / Then ſtrike, Affliction, for thy wounds are balm. [Attributed to Roger L'Estrange (1616–1704).]
- Something which causes pain, suffering, distress or agony.
- 1913, Willa Cather, O Pioneers!:
- She wore a man's long ulster (not as if it were an affliction, but as if it were very comfortable and belonged to her; carried it like a young soldier) [...]
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
a state of pain, suffering, distress or agony
|
something which causes pain, suffering, distress or agony
|
French edit
Etymology edit
Inherited from Old French afliction, borrowed from Latin afflīctiōnem.
Pronunciation edit
Audio (file)
Noun edit
affliction f (plural afflictions)
- (countable and uncountable) affliction
References edit
- “affliction”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.