concern

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English[edit]

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Pronunciation[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From Middle French concerner, from Medieval Latin concernō (“I distinguish, have respect to”), combined form of con- + cernō (“distinguish”).

Noun[edit]

concern (countable and uncountable, plural concerns)

  1. That which affects one’s welfare or happiness. A matter of interest to someone. The adposition before the matter of interest is usually over, about or for.
    • 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 2, in The Celebrity:
      We drove back to the office with some concern on my part at the prospect of so large a case. Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke. He was dressed out in broad gaiters and bright tweeds, like an English tourist, and his face might have belonged to Dagon, idol of the Philistines.
    • 2011 April 10, Alistair Magowan, “Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle”, in BBC Sport:
      Although the encounter was bathed in sunshine, the match failed to reach boiling point but that will be of little concern to Gerard Houllier’s team, who took a huge step forward before they face crucial matches against their relegation rivals.
    Mark’s health was of great concern to Connie.
    Most people in Australia have no concern for the recent events in London.
  2. The expression of solicitude, anxiety, or compassion toward a thing or person.
    • 1907, Harold Bindloss, chapter 22, in The Dust of Conflict[1]:
      Appleby […] rose from his seat when Morales came in. He shook hands urbanely, unbuckled his sword, and laid his kepi on the table, and then sat down with an expression of concern in his olive face which Appleby fancied was assumed.
  3. A business, firm or enterprise; a company.
    • 2001 November 18, “What the Muslim World Is Watching,” The New York Times (retrieved 26 July 2014):
      Soon after he ascended the throne, an Arabic television joint venture between the BBC and a Saudi concern, Orbit Communications, foundered over the BBC’s insistence on editorial independence.
    The employees’ attitude is really hurting the concern.
  4. (programming) Any set of information that affects the code of a computer program.
    • 2006, Awais Rashid, Mehmet Aksit, Transactions on Aspect-Oriented Software Development II, page 148:
      At the programming level, an aspect is a modular unit that implements a concern.

Synonyms[edit]

  • (that which affects one’s welfare or happiness): interest

Translations[edit]

Further reading[edit]

Verb[edit]

concern (third-person singular simple present concerns, present participle concerning, simple past and past participle concerned)

  1. (transitive) To relate or belong to; to have reference to or connection with; to affect the interest of; to be of importance to.
    • (Can we date this quote?) Bible, Acts xxviii. 31
      Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ.
    • (Can we date this quote?) Joseph Addison (1672-1719)
      Our wars with France have affected us in our most tender interests, and concerned us more than those with any other nation.
    • (Can we date this quote?) James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851)
      ignorant, so far as the usual instruction is concerned
    • 1915, George A. Birmingham, “chapter I”, in Gossamer (Project Gutenberg; EBook #24394), London: Methuen & Co., published 8 January 2013 (Project Gutenberg version), OCLC 558189256:
      As a political system democracy seems to me extraordinarily foolish, but I would not go out of my way to protest against it. My servant is, so far as I am concerned, welcome to as many votes as he can get. I would very gladly make mine over to him if I could.
  2. (transitive) To engage by feeling or sentiment; to interest.
    A good prince concerns himself in the happiness of his subjects.
    • (Can we date this quote?) Samuel Rogers (1763-1855)
      They think themselves out the reach of Providence, and no longer concerned to solicit his favour.
    • 1935, George Goodchild, chapter 3, in Death on the Centre Court:
      It had been his intention to go to Wimbledon, but as he himself said: “Why be blooming well frizzled when you can hear all the results over the wireless. And results are all that concern me. […]”
  3. (transitive) To make somebody worried.
    I’m concerned that she’s becoming an alcoholic.

Translations[edit]

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Translations to be checked

Derived terms[edit]

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