af ‧ flict /əˈflɪkt/ BrE AmE verb [transitive often passive] formal
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: past participle of affligere 'to throw down' , from ad- 'to' + fligere 'to hit' ]
to affect someone or something in an unpleasant way, and make them suffer
afflict with/by
a country afflicted by famine