▪ I. † aˈfflict, ppl. a. Obs.
Also 5 aflyght, aflight.
[a. MFr. afflict occas. refashioning of OFr. aflit:—L. afflīct-um pa. pple. of afflīg-ĕre to dash against, to throw down, to distress; f. af- = ad- to + flīg-ĕre to dash. The earlier aflight shows the same phonetic change as delight = MFr. délit and délict.]
Overwhelmed with any trouble, afflicted, distressed.
| 1393 Gower Conf. II. 309 Her herte was so sore aflight, That she ne wiste what to thinke. c 1430 Octouian Imp. 191 Tho was the boy aflyght, And dorst not speke. 1432–50 tr. Higden Rolls Ser. I. 193 The women of whiche cite were afflicte in ij. maneres. 1564 Becon Christm. Banq. Wks. 76 They [these histories] be very comfortable for poor afflict sinners. 1583 Sternh. & Hopk. Ps. lxxxviii. 16, I am afflict as dying still, From youth this many a yeare. |
▪ II. afflict, v.
(əˈflɪkt)
Also 4 pa. tense aflight (see prec.).
[f. prec., or on analogy of vbs. so formed.]
† 1. trans. To dash down, overthrow, cast down, deject, humble, in mind, body, or estate. Obs.
| 1393 Gower Conf. I. 327 Cam never yet..to mannes sight Merveille, which so sore aflight A mannes herte. 1611 Bible Lev. xvi. 29 In the seuenth moneth, on the tenth day of the moneth ye shall afflict your soules. 1667 Milton P.L. i. 186 And reassembling our afflicted Powers, Consult how we may henceforth most offend Our enemy. |
† 2. intr. To become downcast (with trouble). Obs.
| 1393 Gower Conf. III. 58 Wherof the kinges herte afflight. |
3. Hence, trans. To distress with bodily or mental suffering; to trouble grievously, torment. refl. To distress oneself, grieve.
| a 1535 More Wks. 1080 (R.) The hope that is differred and delaied, paineth and afflicteth the soule. 1590 Marlowe Faustus xiii. 80, I cannot touch his soul But what I may afflict his body with I will attempt. 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, v. iii. 179 O coward Conscience! how dost thou afflict me? 1667 Fairfax in Phil. Trans. II. 546 She much afflicted her self for the Death of her Father. 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 328 They had no cold to afflict them. 1771 Junius Lett. liv. 287 It is their virtues that afflict, it is their vices that console him. 1820 Shelley Prom. Unbd. i. i. 43 The genii of the storm..afflict me with keen hail. |
▪ III. † afflict, n. Obs. rare.
Also aflight (see afflict a.).
[f. the prec. vb.]
= affliction.
| 1564 Becon Fasting (1844) 542 The life of man upon earth is nothing else than a ‘warfare’ and continual afflict with her ghostly enemies. 1592 R. Hyrde tr. Vives' Instr. Chr. Wom. P ij, With the which aflight of her mind, she fell to labour of childe afore her time. |