afflation

Noun

afflation (plural afflations)

1. A blowing or breathing on.
   • At 100 ° F. and in a perfectly damp atmosphere, there occurs an absolute stagnation of the air surrounding the living body: but as air of that temperature is never naturally saturated with moisture. afflation still affords relief by applying air capable of dissolving the animal perspiration, and...1829, D. Butter, “On Public Health in India”, in Transactions of the Medical and Physical Society of Calcutta, page 140
   • Stirred by the winds of some unseen afflation, he becomes restless .1908, Charles Bruce Pitblado, Edwy Guthrie Pitblado, Nareen, page 104
2. Spiritual inspiration.
   • but on the other side, the frequent testimonies of the Spirit's revealing by way of prophetic afflation, who should be set appart for the offices of the church, are evidences that it was so here.1845, Henry Hammond, A Paraphrase and Annotations upon all the books of The New Testament
   • Ironically, afflation at once diminishes the role of the messenger, who may disclaim being anything more than a conduit, and elevates the status of her message, since it comes from the divine.1998, Earle J. Coleman, Creativity and Spirituality: Bonds between Art and Religion, page 168
3. Enthusiasm; strength of feeling; emotionality.
   • These Memoirs are introduced by a Preface written by the Author's brother, with considerable elegance and feeling, though by no means devoid of that afflation of style and display of sentiment, which are the great defects of modern Irish eloquence.·1816, The Eclectic review. vol. 1-New [8th] - Volume 5, page 498
   • A man may be buoyed up by the afflation of his wild desires to brave any imaginable peril; but he cannot calmly see one he loves braving the same peril; simply because he cannot feel within him that which prompts another.1846, George Henry Lewes, The Spanish Drama, page 62
4. A pneumotoxic infection.
   • Regarding the afflation of pharyngeal lymphoids, simple as all agree that this is in skilled hands, opinions differ widely as to the best technique.1906, “Tonsils, True and False; Including their Bloodless Removal”, in The Pacific Dental Gazette
   • For example, a pandemic of afflation in maize in a given country may lead to the imposition of an import ban by potential patrons.2020, Youssef M. Hamada, Agribusiness as the Future of Agriculture, page 196