affliction
(əˈflɪkʃən)
Also 4 affliccioun, 5 -tyon, 6 -cion, -cyon.
[a. Fr. affliction, OFr. aflicion, early ad. L. afflīctiōn-em, n. of action and state, f. afflīct- ppl. stem of afflīg-ĕre: see afflict a. and -ion1.]
† 1. The action of inflicting grievous pain or trouble. spec. in its earliest use, Self-infliction of religious discipline; mortification, humiliation. Obs.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handlyng Synne 309 Yn þyn afflycciouns Yn fastyng and yn orisouns. 1483 Caxton G. de la Tour h vi, The sayd hooly prophete..made his prayers and his afflyctions solytaryly and secretely. 1534 More Comf. agst. Tribul. ii. Wks. 1557, 1177/1 Lett hym put vppon hys bodye, and pourge the spirite by the afflyccion of the fleshe. 1611 Bible 2 Chron. xviii. 26 Feede him with bread of affliction, and with water of affliction, vntill I returne in peace. 1628 tr. Camden's Hist. Eliz. (1688) ii. 147 Affliction for Religion groweth every day heavier and heavier. |
2. The state of being afflicted; sore pain of body or trouble of mind; misery, distress.
| 1382 Wyclif Ex. iii. 7, I have seen the affliccioun of my puple in Egipte. 1485 Caxton Paris & Vienne (1868) 53, I endure grete heuynes sorowe and afflyctyon. 1602 Shakes. Ham. iii. ii. 324 The Queene your Mother, in most great affliction of spirit, hath sent me to you. 1671 Milton Samson 110 Enemies, who come to stare At my affliction. 1725 Pope Odyss. viii. 32 Here affliction never pleads in vain. 1781 T. Jefferson Corr. Wks. 1859 I. 303 The affliction of the people for want of arms is great. 1816 Singer Hist. Playing Cards 10 During the affliction of a famine. |
3. An instance of affliction; a pain, calamity, grief, distress.
| 1598 Shakes. Merry W. v. v. 178 To repay that money will be a biting affliction. 1652 J. Burroughes Exp. Hosea vii. 130 Afflictions are as lead to the net, the promise is as the corke. 1812 Jane Austen Mansf. Park (1851) 96 So harmonised by distance, that every former affliction had its charm. |