[f. prec. vb.: the relation of sense between the vb. and sb. corresponded originally to that between vb. and sb. in regard, respect. There is no corresponding sb. in Fr.
The use of concern instead of concernment in R. Boyle’s Parthenissa was thus censured in 1655 by Dorothy Osborne, Lett., li. (1888), 238, ‘Another fault I find, too, in the style- ’tis affected … My concern or of great concern is, it seems [i.e., to Boyle], properer than concernment.’]
I. A relation objective or subjective.
† 1. Regard, respect, reference; concernment. In that concern: in regard or respect to that. Obs.
1589. Jas. VI., in Ellis, Orig. Lett., I. 228. III. 29. We … desyring you to interpone your gud will … to thair expeditcoun and furtherance in that concerne.
1667. H. More, Div. Dial., V. iv. (1713), 409. I would not exclude the Persian from the Concern of this sixth Vial.
1694. Acc. Sev. Late Voy., I. (1711), 96. Men of good observation to inspect into matters of this Concern.
b. Relation; concernment.
1862. Stanley, Jew. Ch. (1877), I. iv. 73. It is connected with every stage of the Sacred History; but its special concern is with the period preceding the Exodus.
2. Of concern: of relation to some one; esp. of important relation, of importance, of interest.
1655. [see note in Etymol.].
1666. Sir J. Talbot, in Slingsby’s Diary (1836), 369. He hath some affaires of Concerne to you to acquaint you of.
1674. Allen, Danger Enthus., 27. Those things which in their nature were of common concern unto all.
1682. Bunyan, Holy War, 203. So he has writ himself in all papers of concern, wherein he has had to do.
1697. Collier, Ess. Mor. Subj., II. To Rdr. (1709), 4. A Cause of Concern ought to be pleaded to Advantage.
1712. Arbuthnot, John Bull (1727), 78. Truly this is a matter of some concern.
1869. Haddan, Apost. Success., iii. (1879), 57. A truth of deep concern to men’s souls.
3. A relation of practical intercourse with (anyone). pl. Transactions, business relations.
1699. Bentley, Phal., 98. He had concerns with the Mamertines of Messana.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, Wks. (1775), III. 129. I know Mr. Nightingale … and have formerly had concerns with him.
1790. Cowper, Odyss., III. 90. Come ye to transact concerns Commercial?
1807. Crabbe, Par. Reg., II. 224. In all concerns was Stephen just and true.
b. To have no concern (formerly concerns) with: to have nothing to do with.
1726. Shelvocke, Voy. round World, Pref. 26. He often declared that he would have no concerns with me when we came to sea.
1846. Mill, Logic, I. iii. § 7. We have no concern here with this controversy.
a. 1862. Buckle, Civiliz. (1873), III. v. 464. The process, being ideal, has no concern either with observations or experiments.
1876. Freeman, Norm. Conq., I. 359. With these rulers of Bernicia I have no concern.
4. A relation of connection or active interest in an act or affair; interest, share, position of being concerned in; as, to have a concern in.
1720. Waterland, Eight Serm., 102. The Son’s concern in the Work of Creation.
1805. Wellington, in Owen, Disp., 511. The Acting Resident did not suspect that … Scindiah had any concern in this outrage.
1814. Scott, Wav., xliii. How many gentlemen … took a concern in the … undertaking of 1745.
1835. Ure, Philos. Manuf., 302. Motives of humanity had not the smallest concern in the business.
† b. A financial or commercial interest or share.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), VII. 284. He has a concern in a ship, which will sail in a month.
1762–71. H. Walpole, Vertue’s Anecd. Paint. (1786), V. 170. He appears too to have had some concern in a manufacture of tapestry.
5. Interest, solicitous regard, solicitude, anxiety; anxious, uneasy, or troubled state of mind, arising from regard to or interest in any person or thing. (Viewed as a condition that one is in or under, a sentiment that one has, shows, etc.)
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., II. 709. Without concern he hears … Of … distant war.
1704. Swift, Batt. Bks. (1711), 243. Jove, in great Concern, convokes a Council in the Milky-Way.
1707. J. Logan, in Pa. Hist. Soc. Mem., X. 214. During their absence, I was under the greatest concern of mind that ever I knew in my life.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ., The Postillion. The concern which the poor fellow’s story threw me into.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. iii. 28. I noticed an expression of concern upon his countenance.
1877. Mozley, Univ. Serm., iv. 83. Deep concern for human souls.
b. (with a and pl.) ? Obs.
1692. Dryden, St. Evremont’s Ess., 101. If so be what is said of us be false, so soon as we shew a concern at it, we make it suspected for Truth.
1713. Addison, Cato, I. v. O Marcia, let me hope thy kind concerns And gentle wishes follow me to battel!
1769. Junius’ Lett., i. 2. Every man who pretends to a concern for the public welfare.
II. A matter that concerns.
6. A matter or subject that relates or appertains to some person or thing, an affair. † General or public concern: the commonwealth, res publica.
1707. Freind, Peterborow’s Cond., Sp., 174. To lay down my Life … if my preservation were not of greater use to the General concern.
1770. Langhorne, Plutarch (1879), I. 200. He saw what an important concern the administration was.
1794. Godwin, Cal. Williams, 219. Zealous as she was for the public concern.
1806–7. J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life (1826), III. Conclus. I have … neglected almost every other concern in trying to find it out.
b. pl. Affairs.
1675. Ogilby, Brit., 46. The Hall in which are Heard all Concerns in Law.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., II. 84. He often inspected the Accompts of his sister … and had a great care of her concerns.
1718. Freethinker, No 87. 226. The least Judgment or Discretion in the Common Concerns of Life.
1729. Butler, Serm., Wks. 1874, II. 50. That strong inclination most have to be talking of the concerns … of their neighbour.
1813. Wellington, in Gurw., Disp., XI. 107. I can interfere in no manner whatever in the internal concerns of the country.
1829. Southey, O. Newman, vi. Of needful things and every-day concerns.
1872. Morley, Voltaire (1886), 28. The application of individual energy and thought to public concerns.
7. A matter or subject that affects or touches one, and that ought to engage one’s active interest and attention. esp. with possessive, My concern: my business, a matter affecting me, or in which I have ground of interference.
1676. Dryden, Aureng-z., III. i.
| No Plots th’Alarm to his retirements give: | |
| ’Tis all Mankinds concern that he should live. |
1732. Law, Serious C., xxiv. (ed. 2), 489. Which are the common and greatest concern of all Christians.
1790. Burke, Fr. Rev., 17. That is their concern.
1850. Herschel, Stud. Nat. Phil., II. vii. (1851), 215. Their performance, in many cases, becomes a national concern.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Manch. Strike, i. 9. What concern is it of yours?
1883. G. Lloyd, Ebb & Flow, II. 287. It is no concern of mine.
b. Hence, A subject that does excite one’s interest, attention, and care; a subject about which one concerns himself. (Cf. 5.)
a. 1831. A. Knox, Rem. (1844), I. 71. To keep his own vineyard was his first and great concern.
1888. M. Morris, Claverhouse, vi. 89. But it was the work he had been set to do; and his concern was only to execute it as completely as possible.
8. pl. Things that belong to one; belongings. Obs. b. Things appertaining to any work, appurtenances. rare. c. Persons belonging to one; ‘relations,’ relatives. Sc. dial.
1693. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), III. 321. That afternoon he removed his concerns out of the office.
1818. B. O’Reilly, Greenland, 236. Nor were the concerns for scientific observation overlooked.
1818. Edin. Mag., 330 (Jam.). They appeared to their nearest relations (in the Scottish language concerns) and declared to them their state.
† 9. A property, an estate. Now dial.
1787. Grose, Provinc. Gloss., Concern, a little estate.
1877. Holderness Gloss., Consahn, an estate, a property. ‘Ah’ve bowt a nice consahn at Hedon.’
10. A business organization; a business, a firm; a commercial or manufacturing establishment.
So long as a partnership firm consists of the original partners, it is called first concern; on a change in the firm, occurring by the retirement or accession of any partner, or by change of position among the partners, it is called second concern; so third, fourth concern, etc.
1681. Yarranton, Eng. Improv., II. 159. If Things in the Iron Concern are as you say, the whole Country suffers much by it.
1800. Wellington, in Owen, Disp., 722. [They] can no longer be considered as the agents of a commercial concern.
1857. C. Brontë, Professor, I. ii. 22. A dense, permanent vapour brooded over this locality—there lay Edward’s ‘Concern.’
1866. Crump, Banking, i. 32. The bank received back its own with interest, and subsequently became a flourishing concern.
1885. Law Rep., 29 Chanc. Div. 463. The directors did not … know that the concern was going to fail.
11. familiarly. A material contrivance or object; esp. one that is complicated or cumbrous: usually with some amount of depreciation (esp. it applied to a person); cf. affair, article, thing.
1834. Mrs. Carlyle, Lett., I. 12. A steel-pen, which is a very unpliable concern.
1842. S. Lover, Handy Andy, xvi. A tin concern, something like a chimney-cowl.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., I. xxvii. 359. A moment’s check would plunge the whole concern into the rapid tide-way.
1856. Mrs. Stowe, Dred, I. i. 16. No, I’m not, Harry; I am a selfish little concern.
12. An ‘affair’ not more definitely characterized; e.g., an intrigue, disturbance, etc. Now chiefly dial.
1690. J. Wilson, Belphegor (Dram. Restoration, 296). It is not long since I had a concern with a signiora.
1877. N. W. Lincolnsh. Gloss., Consarn, an intrigue. ‘They’d a consarn together for years, an’ he’d two bairns by her.’
1877. Holderness Gloss., ‘It’s a queer consahn that of awd Smith and his men.’
1888. W. Somerset Wort-bk., Concern, row, quarrel, disturbance. ‘There was a pretty consarn sure ’nough, last night.’
