afflict

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af·flict / əˈflikt/ • v. [tr.] (of a problem or illness) cause pain or suffering to; affect or trouble: serious ills afflict the industry [as pl. n.] (the afflicted) he comforted the afflicted. ∎  Astrol. (of a celestial body) be in a stressful aspect with (another celestial body or a point on the ecliptic): Jupiter is afflicted by Mars in opposition.DERIVATIVES: af·flic·tive / -tiv/ adj. ( archaic ).

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