inflict
UK[ɪnˈflɪkt]US[ɪnˈflɪkt]
v
To make someone or something suffer something unpleasant or harmful.
Morpheme Breakdown
in
flict
in
in, into, on
flict
to strike
Etymology
The verb 'inflict' originates from the Latin compound verb infligere, which is formed from the prefix in- ('in, into, upon') and the verb fligere ('to strike, dash'). The literal sense of the Latin word was 'to strike into or against'. This concrete meaning of physical striking evolved in English to encompass the more abstract sense of imposing something burdensome or unpleasant, such as pain, punishment, or suffering, upon a person or entity. The semantic connection remains clear: to inflict is metaphorically to strike something harmful onto another.
Analysis
Structure: in + flict
in- (Latin prefix, meaning 'in, into, on'); flict (from Latin fligere, meaning 'to strike')
Examples
The new law will inflict severe penalties on polluters.
He would never deliberately inflict pain on an animal.
The hurricane inflicted massive damage on the coastal towns.