\Af*flic"tion\, n. [F. affliction, L. afflictio, fr.
affligere.]
1. The cause of continued pain of body or mind, as sickness,
   losses, etc.; an instance of grievous distress; a pain or
   grief.
         To repay that money will be a biting affliction.
                                               --Shak.
2. The state of being afflicted; a state of pain, distress,
   or grief.
         Some virtues are seen only in affliction. --Addison.
Syn: Calamity; sorrow; distress; grief; pain; adversity;
     misery; wretchedness; misfortune; trouble; hardship.
Usage: {Affliction}, {Sorrow}, {Grief}, {Distress}.
       Affliction and sorrow are terms of wide and general
       application; grief and distress have reference to
       particular cases. Affliction is the stronger term. The
       suffering lies deeper in the soul, and usually arises
       from some powerful cause, such as the loss of what is
       most dear -- friends, health, etc. We do not speak of
       mere sickness or pain as ``an affliction,'' though one
       who suffers from either is said to be afflicted; but
       deprivations of every kind, such as deafness,
       blindness, loss of limbs, etc., are called
       afflictions, showing that term applies particularly to
       prolonged sources of suffering. Sorrow and grief are
       much alike in meaning, but grief is the stronger term
       of the two, usually denoting poignant mental suffering
       for some definite cause, as, grief for the death of a
       dear friend; sorrow is more reflective, and is tinged
       with regret, as, the misconduct of a child is looked
       upon with sorrow. Grief is often violent and
       demonstrative; sorrow deep and brooding. Distress
       implies extreme suffering, either bodily or mental. In
       its higher stages, it denotes pain of a restless,
       agitating kind, and almost always supposes some
       struggle of mind or body. Affliction is allayed, grief
       subsides, sorrow is soothed, distress is mitigated.