Concern
/kənˈsɜːrn/noun
To relate to or affect someone or something; also, anxiety or worry about something.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Latin *cernere*, “to sift, separate, decide,” the same root behind *discern* and *criterion*—so hidden inside “concern” is the ancient language of judgment and separation.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*krei-
“to sieve, sift, separate”
Latin
Latin
cernere
“to sift, distinguish, decide”
Latin
Latin
concernere
“to sift together, mix together; to relate to, affect”
Middle French
Old French
concerner
“to concern, have to do with”
Late 16th Century
English
concern
“to relate to, affect; later, anxiety or worry”