The word afflict is used in literature to capture a range of suffering—from divine punishment to personal anguish. In sacred writings, it often denotes God’s retribution, as when affliction is portrayed as a purposeful chastisement for sinfulness ([1], [2], [3]). Meanwhile, in the works of Shakespeare and his contemporaries, afflict underscores both the external torments imposed by fate and the internal struggles of the human heart ([4], [5], [6]). Its usage also extends to reflections on societal misfortune and natural calamities, where affliction embodies the persistent hardships of life ([7], [8]). Whether signifying a physical blow, an emotional wound, or a cosmic balancing of justice, afflict enriches the language by vividly conveying the intensity and complexity of suffering ([9], [10], [11]).