INFLICT', verb transitive [Latin inflictus, infligo; in and fligo, to strike; Eng. to flog.]
To lay on; to throw or send on; to apply; as, to inflict pain or disgrace; to inflict punishment on an offender.
To inflict an office, condition, knowledge, tenderness, etc. on one, as used by Chesterfield, is not an authorized use of the word.