Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “concern” come from?

Concern comes from Middle French concerner, from Medieval Latin concerno, which combines the Latin prefix com- meaning "together" with a root denoting to sift or distinguish.

concern (English): That which affects one’s welfare or happiness. A...

Definitions

  1. That which affects one’s welfare or happiness. A...

Ancestry of “concern”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchconcerner—
2Medieval LatinconcernoI distinguish, have respect to; I mix, sift or...
3Latinconcernō—
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 “concern”

  • concerning
  • unconcern
  • concernment
  • concerneth
  • overconcern
  • unconcerning
  • concerningly
  • nonconcern
  • concernable
  • inconcerning
  • unconcernment
  • concernest
  • concerningness
  • misconcern
  • microconcern
  • chemieconcern
  • concern
  • konsen
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →