Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CON-CERN', v.t. [Fr. concerner; It. concernere; Sp. concernir; to concern, to regard, to belong to; L. Latin concerno; con and cerno, to separate, sift, divide; to see. If this is the true origin, as I suppose, the primary sense is, to reach or extend to, or to look to, as we use regard.]

1. To relate or belong to. Preaching the kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ. – Acts xxviii.
2. To relate or belong to, in an emphatical manner; to affect the interest of; to be of importance to. Our wars with France have affected us in our most tender interests, and concerned us more than those with any other nation. – Addison. It much concerns us to secure the favor and protection of God. – Anon.
3. To interest or affect the passions; to take an interest in; to engage by feeling or sentiment; as, a good prince concerns himself in the happiness of his subjects; a kind parent concerns himself in the virtuous education of his children. They think themselves out of the reach of Providence, and no longer concerned to solicit his favor. – Rogers.
4. To disturb; to make uneasy. [Little used.] – Derham.
5. To intermeddle; as, we need not concern ourselves with the affairs of our neighbors.