'afligir' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'affligere', where the prefix 'ad-' meant 'to/toward' and 'fligere' meant 'to strike'.

'afligir' changed from Latin 'affligere' through Old French 'afliger' and eventually became the modern Spanish verb 'afligir'.

Initially, it meant 'to strike down or strike against', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to cause sorrow or distress'.