1550 M. Coverdale tr. O. Werdmueller Spyrytuall & Precyouse Pearle vi. f. xviij Euen so God in afflictinge and correctinge of vs, occupyeth and vseth the deuyll and wycked people, but yet all to doo vs good wyth all.

1611 Bible (King James) Judges ii. 2 So he..concluded the afflicting of the whole earth out of his owne mouth. View more context for this quotation

1658 R. Beake Let. 1 June in H. Cromwell Corr. (2007) 376 My sister Elizabeth is yet under heavy afflictings.

1716 R. Boulton Compleat Hist. Magick II. i. 5 He brought Poppets to them, and Thorns to stick into those Poppets for the afflicting of other Persons.

1752 R. Baron Pillars of Priestcraft & Orthodoxy Shaken I. 250 Cruelty is either the afflicting of an innocent person, or the punishing of an offender with more pain than his crimes deserve.

1822 Churchman's Mag. May 140/2 Without any of those inward afflictings and repentant actions of the soul, which constitute a true fast unto God.

1854 Evangelical Mag. July 403/1 The observance of rites and ceremonies, the afflicting of the body, or anything else of man's devising, can convey no permanent relief.

1922 C. A. McGrew City of San Diego II. 277 He worked earnestly to bring about the preventive measure that would obviate the afflicting of cattle in the Imperial Valley and San Diego County from this source.

1995 A. R. Eckardt How to tell God from Devil iv. 65 A given historical instance of the afflicting of the Jewish people when they are themselves under affliction.

1573 G. Gascoigne & F. Kinwelmersh Iocasta i. in G. Gascoigne Hundreth Sundrie Flowres 90 Doe thou defende, euen of thy tender loue, Thy humble thralls from this afflicting wrong.

1597 G. Markham tr. G. Pétau de Maulette Deuoreux 22 This was th'afflicting corsiue of your harts, And howerly renouator of your ills.

1605 Famous Hist. Capt. Stukeley sig. C Whose afflicting paine Hath neither left him appetite nor tast.

1651 N. Culpeper Semeiotica Uranica ii. vii. 63 Mars is Lord of death, and also an afflicting Planet.

1705 G. Stanhope Paraphr. Epist. & Gospels II. 459 A very serious and afflicting Concern for having Offended.

1785 T. Jefferson Notes Virginia vi. 105 An afflicting picture..which..I am glad to believe has no original.

1823 W. Scott Quentin Durward III. iv. 99 The farther tidings..will be afflicting to you to hear.

1867 W. H. Smyth & E. Belcher Sailor's Word-bk. Introd. 5 An afflicting malady..which..closed his valuable life, and clued up our arrangements.

1925 Woman's World (Chicago) Apr. 70/3 In consequence of the late afflicting event of the death of the much lamented General Hamilton.

1969 Astrological Mag. (Bangalore) Dec. 1156/2 Neptune is an afflicting planet in the Union chart also. With Neptune, we cannot definitely say what is in store.

2005 New Yorker 13 June 160/2 In Stein's case, the afflicting aftermath was usually non-publication.