Pronunciation: [ɐflˈɪktɪd] (IPA) 
The word "afflicted" is spelled with two letter "f"s, as opposed to only one as in the word "affected". This is because the "i" in "afflict" is pronounced with a short "i" sound followed by a "k" sound, which creates a double consonant. The IPA transcription for "afflicted" is /əˈflɪktɪd/. This word means to suffer from a particular condition or ailment, and is commonly used in discussions about physical or mental health.
The term "afflicted" is an adjective used to describe an individual or a group of people who are experiencing physical or mental suffering, distress, or hardship due to an illness, condition, or unfortunate circumstances. It conveys a sense of adversity or affliction that affects an individual's well-being or quality of life.
In a medical context, being afflicted typically refers to the presence of a disease, disorder, or ailment that causes pain, discomfort, or impairment. This can involve acute or chronic illnesses, such as cancer, diabetes, or arthritis, as well as injuries or disabilities that impede normal functioning. When used in a broader sense, "afflicted" can also pertain to non-medical hardships, such as poverty, destitution, discrimination, or other forms of social and economic disadvantage that undermine a person's overall welfare.
Furthermore, "afflicted" may also allude to mental or emotional distress. This can involve psychological conditions like depression, anxiety disorders, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that affect an individual's emotional well-being, thought processes, and behavior.
Overall, the term "afflicted" captures the idea of individuals or groups struggling with physical, mental, or socio-economic challenges that have a negative impact on their overall health, happiness, or societal position.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "afflicted" originated from the Latin term "affligere", which is a combination of the prefix "ad-" meaning "to" and "fligere" meaning "to strike". In Latin, "affligere" meant "to cast down" or "to knock down". Over time, the term evolved in Old French to "afflicter", which means "to torment" or "to distress". Eventually, it entered the English language as "afflict" and "afflicted" around the 14th century with the same meaning of causing pain, hardship, or sorrow.
