inflict

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in·flict / inˈflikt/ • v. [tr.] cause (something unpleasant or painful) to be suffered by someone or something: they inflicted serious injuries on three other men. ∎  (inflict something on) impose something unwelcome on: she is wrong to inflict her beliefs on everyone else.DERIVATIVES: in·flict·a·ble adj.in·flict·er n.ORIGIN: mid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘afflict, trouble’): from Latin inflict- ‘struck against,’ from the verb infligere, from in- ‘into’ + fligere ‘to strike.’

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