concern English · revision 4011

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1420|origins=la cernere}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /kənˈsɜːn/, US /kənˈsɝːn/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|concernen]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) [[bor|frm|concerner|t=to concern, touch, belong to]] and directly [[der|la-med|concernere|t=to relate to, belong to]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) a figurative use of Late Latin concernere “to sift, mix as in a sieve”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[m|la|com-|t=with, together]] and [[m|la|cernere|t=to sift; to perceive, distinguish]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*krey-|alt=*krei-|t=to sieve]].^(Etymonline) The sense of the prefix apparently shifted to intensive in Medieval Latin.^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) The noun is from the verb.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) It is related to [[discern]], [[certain]] and [[concerning]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of persons, “to perceive, distinguish”, and of things, “to refer to, relate to”: the early 15th century in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) Barnhart has the first before 1420 and the second in 1420.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “To affect the interest of, be of importance to” is from the late 15th century,^(Etymonline) and so “to worry, make uneasy” (17th century),^(Etymonline) though Barnhart finds this sense in Lydgate about 1408.^(Barnhart 1988) ''To concern oneself'', “to busy oneself”, is from the 1630s.^(Etymonline) The preposition ''concerning'' developed in the 15th century, probably modelled on French concernant.^(Hoad 1986) The noun, “regard, reference”, now obsolete, is from the 1580s;^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) “that which relates to one, one's affair” from the 1670s;^(Etymonline) a business establishment from the 1680s (1681);^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and “solicitous regard” from the 1690s.^(Etymonline) ''To whom it may concern'' is attested by 1740.^(Etymonline) The dialect form consarn (1832), used as an oath, is probably a euphemism for damn.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1420 – to perceive; to relate to.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * late 15th century – to be of importance to.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1580s – noun, regard.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1630s – ''to concern oneself''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1681 – a business.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1690s – solicitous regard.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1740 – ''to whom it may concern''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To have to do with; to relate to: ''the book concerns the war''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To be of interest or importance to.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To engage the attention of; to [[involve]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To make anxious or uneasy; to [[worry]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # Something that relates to one; an affair: ''it's no concern of yours''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Regard for or interest in someone or something.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Anxiety; [[unease]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A business establishment; a [[firm]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[concernment]]

+ * [[overconcern]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[discern]]

+ * [[certain]]

+ * [[concerning]]

+ * [[secret]]

+ * [[decree]]

+ * [[crime]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}