Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “concentration” come from?

Concentration derives from French concentration, from Latin concentrātiō (a gathering together), from concentrāre (to bring together), combining Latin com- (together) and centāre (to center), ultimately from Ancient Greek κεντεῖν (kentein, to prick or center).

concentration (English): The act, process or ability of concentrating; the...

Definitions

  1. The act, process or ability of concentrating; the...

Ancestry of “concentration”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishconcentrateTo bring to, or direct toward, a common center;...
2Frenchconcentrerto concentrate
3Frenchcon-con-
4Latincōn-—
5Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
6Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
7Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
10Middle Englishkyt—
11Germankitt—
12Old High Germankuti—
13Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
14Proto-Germanickweduzresin
15Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
16Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “concentration”

  • deconcentration
  • preconcentration
  • bioconcentration
  • hemoconcentration
  • reconcentration
  • overconcentration
  • haemoconcentration
  • hyperconcentration
  • cryoconcentration
  • concentration camp
  • konsentrasyon
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →