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 ).

afflict XIV. — L. afflictāre or f. afflict-, pp. stem of afflīgere f. AF- + flīgere strike; partly after pp. †afflict.
So affliction XIV. — (O)F. — L. (esp. eccl.).