Concern

Pronunciation

Origin

From Middle French concerner, from Medieval Latin concernere ("to distinguish, to have respect to"), combined form of con- + cernō ("distinguish")

Full definition of concern

Noun

1. That which affects one's welfare or happiness.
• 1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity Chapter 2, 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, 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.
2. Mark's health was of great concern to Connie.   The recent events in London are of no concern to most people in Australia.
3. The expression of solicitude, anxiety, or compassion toward a thing or person.
• 1907, w, The Dust of Conflict Chapter 22, 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.
4. A business, firm or enterprise; a company.
   The employees' attitude is really hurting the concern.
5. (computing, 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

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

Verb

1. (transitive) To relate or belong to; to have reference to or connection with; to affect the interest of; to be of importance to.
• Bible, Acts xxviii. 31Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ.
• 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.
• James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851)ignorant, so far as the usual instruction is concerned
2. (transitive) To engage by feeling or sentiment; to interest.
   A good prince concerns himself in the happiness of his subjects.
• Samuel Rogers (1763-1855)They think themselves out the reach of Providence, and no longer concerned to solicit his favour.
• 1935, George Goodchild, Death on the Centre Court Chapter 3, 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.

Derived terms

• concernable