Also 4 affliccioun, 5 -tyon, 6 -cion, -cyon. [a. Fr. affliction, OFr. aflicion, early ad. L. afflīctiōn-em, n. of action and state, f. afflīct- ppl. stem of afflīg-ĕre: see AFFLICT a. and -ION.]
† 1. The action of inflicting grievous pain or trouble. spec. in its earliest use, Self-infliction of religious discipline; mortification, humiliation. Obs.
1303. R. Brunne, Handlyng Synne, 309. Yn þyn afflycciouns Yn fastyng and yn orisouns.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, h vi. The sayd hooly prophete … made his prayers and his afflyctions solytaryly and secretely.
1534. More, Comf. agst. Trib., II. Wks. 1557, 1177/1. Lett hym put vppon hys bodye, and pourge the spirite by the afflyccion of the fleshe.
1611. Bible, 2 Chron. xviii. 26. Feede him with bread of affliction, and with water of affliction, vntill I returne in peace.
1628. trans. Camden’s Hist. Eliz. (1688), II. 147. Affliction for Religion groweth every day heavier and heavier.
2. The state of being afflicted; sore pain of body or trouble of mind; misery, distress.
1382. Wyclif, Ex. iii. 7. I have seen the affliccioun of my puple in Egipte.
1485. Caxton, Paris & Vienne (1868), 53. I endure grete heuynes sorowe and afflyctyon.
1602. Shaks., Haml., III. ii. 324. The Queene your Mother, in most great affliction of spirit, hath sent me to you.
1671. Milton, Samson, 110. Enemies, who come to stare At my affliction.
1725. Pope, Odyss., VIII. 32. Here affliction never pleads in vain.
1781. T. Jefferson, Corr., Wks. 1859, I. 303. The affliction of the people for want of arms is great.
1816. Singer, Hist. Playing Cards, 10. During the affliction of a famine.
3. An instance of affliction; a pain, calamity, grief, distress.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., V. v. 178. To repay that money will be a biting affliction.
1652. J. Burroughes, Exp. Hosea, vii. 130. Afflictions are as lead to the net, the promise is as the corke.
1812. Miss Austen, Mansf. Pk. (1851), 96. So harmonised by distance, that every former affliction had its charm.
