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inflict

in·flict [ in flíkt ] (past and past participle in·flict·ed, present participle in·flict·ing, 3rd person present singular in·flicts)


transitive verb 
Definition:
 
1. cause suffering: to be the cause of something harmful or unpleasant such as loss, injury, or damage to somebody or something
Our artillery inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy forces.

2. force on somebody: to impose something burdensome or inconvenient on somebody
In that case I won't inflict my company on you any longer.

[Mid-16th century. < Latin inflict-, past participle of infligere "strike upon" < fligere "to hit"]

in·flict·a·ble adjective
in·flict·er noun
in·flic·tion noun
in·flic·tive adjective

Word Usage

See afflict.

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