ppl. a.; also 6 aflighted. [f. AFFLICT v. + -ED.]
1. Cast down, depressed, oppressed, in mind, body or estate; hence, grievously troubled or distressed.
1534. trans. More’s On the Passion, Wks. 1557, 1389/2. Judas … tooke a speciall pleasure to see them so aflyghted.
1558. Knox, First Blast (1878), 38. A deliuerer to his afflicted people Israel.
1611. Bible, Job xxxiv. 28. He heareth the cry of the afflicted.
1650. Jer. Taylor, Holy Liv. (1727), Pref. 2. Men are apt to prefer a prosperous errour before an afflicted truth.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. & F., III. 255. To heal the wounds of that afflicted country.
1879. Miss Braddon, Vixen, III. 279. Here the afflicted Pamela began to sob hysterically.
2. esp. Grievously affected with continued disease of body or mind; suffering. Also fig.
1680–90. Sir W. Temple, Pop. Discont., Wks. 1731, I. 287. A Piece of Scarlet dipt in scalding Brandy, laid upon the afflicted part.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 153, ¶ 19. If I propose cards, they are afflicted with the head-ach.
1864. Burton, Scot Abroad, I. i. 15. The literary language of England became afflicted with Gallicisms.
Mod. The afflicted child has been removed to the Asylum.
† 3. Dejected, downcast, humble. Obs.
c. 1593. Spenser, Sonnet, ii. And with meek humblesse and afflicted mood. Ibid. (1596), F. Q., I. Introd. 4. The argument of mine afflicted stile.
