concern etymology

Etymology:

  • Old French: concerner "to belong to, concern"
  • Latin: contingere "to happen, occur, be relevant"
  • Proto-Indo-European: *(s)ker- "to cut, separate"

Meaning:

  • To have relevance or importance to something
  • To relate to or involve someone or something
  • To cause anxiety or worry

Origin:

The word "concern" originates from the Old French concerner, which derived from the Latin contingere meaning "to happen, occur, be relevant." This Latin verb is based on the Proto-Indo-European root *(s)ker-, which also gave rise to the English words "cut" and "separate."

The semantic connection between the meaning of "concern" and the root *(s)ker- may lie in the idea that something that is "concerned" with another thing is in some way "connected" or "touched by" it. Just as a cut can separate two parts of something, a concern can separate the mind or attention from other matters.

Over time, the meaning of "concern" evolved to include a sense of anxiety or worry, as it often relates to matters that are important or that have the potential to cause harm.

concern relate terms

  • concerned

    Etymology The word concerned is derived from the Middle English word concernen whic

  • concern

    Etymology Old French concerner to belong to concern Latin contingere to happen o

  • confound

    Etymology From Middle English confounden past participle of confounden from Old Frenc

  • confused

    Etymology is the study of the history of words their origins and how they have changed o

  • refer

    Etymology is the study of the origin of words and the way their form and meaning have chan

  • pertain

    Etymology Latin pertinēre to belong to to have a relation to to concern Proto In

  • relate

    Etymology refers to the study of the origin and history of words It traces the developmen

  • nonchalant

    Etymology The word nonchalant comes from the French word nonchalant pronounced non

  • interest

    Etymology and Meaning of Interest The word interest originates from the Old French te

  • care

    Etymology From Middle English care from Old English cāru meaning sorrow anxiety g

  • trouble

    Etymology The word trouble comes from the Old French word trouble which in turn der

  • apply

    Etymology refers to the study of the origin and history of words It can provide insights

  • hold

    Etymology Old English healdan Proto West Germanic haldan Proto Germanic haldaną P

  • fare

    Etymology The word fare comes from the Old English word fær which means a journey