verb
visit
To bring punishment or other consequences upon someone.
The old tale describes a curse visited upon the village.
Etymology
Religious language used divine visiting for intervention in human affairs. The verb developed a sense of bringing consequences, especially punishment, upon someone.
More examples
- The drought visited hardship on farms throughout the region.
- She refused to visit her anger upon the children.
- The poem tells of punishment visited on a cruel king.
Forms
visit · visits · visited · visiting
Similar words
- inflict
- More directly describes causing harm or suffering.
- bring upon
- A plain phrase for causing an unwelcome consequence.