What does afflation mean?
Afflation is a rare English noun denoting a blowing or breathing upon something — the act of directing breath onto or into an object, person, or space. Its most familiar appearances are in historical and religious writing, where rites such as baptism or exorcism involve a ceremonial breathing upon a person or thing, but the word also admits a figurative sense: an infusion of spirit, influence, or creative power, much like inspiration itself. Derived from the Latin verb afflare, 'to breathe upon,' it belongs to a family of words built on the Latin root flare, including inflate, deflate, conflate, and its close cousin afflatus, which names a rush of poetic or divine inspiration. Because of its formal, archaic character, afflation appears mainly in theological treatises, literary criticism, and scholarly prose rather than everyday speech. For readers and writers, it offers a precise, evocative term for any act — literal or metaphorical — of breathing new life or influence into something.
nounA blowing or breathing upon something; the act of breathing or blowing on or into. In extended use, it can denote an imparting of spiritual or creative influence, akin to inspiration.
- A blowing or breathing upon something, especially in ritual, medical, or physical contexts.
- An imparting of spiritual, poetic, or creative influence; a rare figurative extension of the literal sense.
"The ancient rite called for a gentle afflation of breath over the embers to kindle the flame."
"The priest performed the afflation, breathing softly across the baptismal water."
"Critics described the poet's late work as touched by an afflation from beyond ordinary craft."
The plural is straightforward but seldom needed, as the word typically describes a single act or instance.
"Several distinct afflations of breath were required at different points in the ceremony."
Before 'inspiration' took over, writers spoke of 'afflation' — the literal breath of a god blown into a mortal.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does afflation come from?
Afflation comes from the Latin verb afflare, formed from ad- ('to, toward') plus flare ('to blow, breathe'), meaning 'to blow or breathe upon.' It entered English as a learned borrowing, appearing in scholarly and theological writing by around the early seventeenth century. It shares its root flare with a wide family of English words, including inflate, deflate, conflate, and afflatus, the last being its nearest relative in sense, denoting inspired creative fervor.
Related word forms
How afflation is actually used
Afflation is a rare, learned word found chiefly in historical, theological, and literary contexts. It carries a formal, somewhat archaic register and should be used deliberately rather than casually.
Easily confused with afflation
Afflation refers literally to a blowing or breathing upon something, while afflatus refers specifically to a sudden rush of creative or divine inspiration.