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Afflict vs Grieve - What's the difference?

afflict | grieve | Synonyms |

Afflict is a synonym of grieve.


As a verb afflict

is to cause (someone) pain, suffering or distress.

As an adjective grieve is

.

afflict

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To cause (someone) pain, suffering or distress.
  • * 1611 , 1:11–12:
  • Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict' them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they ' afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
  • * 1611 , 23:27:
  • Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
  • (obsolete) To strike or cast down; to overthrow.
  • * Milton
  • reassembling our afflicted powers
  • (obsolete) To make low or humble.
  • (Spenser)
  • * Jeremy Taylor
  • Men are apt to prefer a prosperous error before an afflicted truth.

    grieve

    English

    Etymology 1

    From the conjugated forms of (etyl) .

    Verb

    (griev)
  • To cause sorrow or distress to.
  • * Bible, Eph. iv. 30
  • Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God.
  • * Cowper
  • The maidens grieved themselves at my concern.
  • To feel very sad about; to mourn; to sorrow for.
  • to grieve one's fate
  • To experience grief.
  • (archaic) To harm.
  • To submit or file a grievance.
  • * 2009 D'Amico, Rob , Editor, Texas Teacher , published by Texas AFT (affiliate of American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO); "Austin classified employees gain due process rights", April 2009, p14:
  • Even if the executive director rules against the employee on appeal, the employee can still grieve the termination to the superintendent followed by an appeal to the [...] Board of Trustees.
    Derived terms
    * grieved * griever * grievingly

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A governor of a town or province.
  • (chiefly, Scotland) A manager or steward, e.g. of a farm.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
  • Their children were horsewhipped by the grieve .
    Derived terms
    * (l)

    Anagrams

    * English ergative verbs ----