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af·flic·tion

(ə-flĭkshən)

1. A condition of pain, suffering, or distress: the affliction of arthritis. See Synonyms at trial.

2. A cause of pain, suffering, or distress: "The mount twists wind and weather to alter them into afflictions as a heartless monarch does laws" (William Least Heat-Moon). See Synonyms at burden.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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