[The pres. pple. of CONCERN v. in sense 2, used at length without reference to any subject, and retaining its verbal object: cf. the series, ‘a matter intimately concerning your friend,’ ‘he made to me a communication concerning your friend,’ ‘I will communicate with you concerning your friend,’ where concerning is, in the first the participle, in the third a preposition, in the second transitional, ‘your friend’ being its object in all.
Cf. the similar use of regarding, touching: so mod.F. concernant, touchant. See also according to, during, notwithstanding, pending, in which prepositions, or prepositional phrases have in different ways arisen out of participles.]
1. (introductory.) Where concerning agrees with a preceding sb. expressed, and may be rendered that concern(s), that relates to. (But since 1600, at least, treated as in 2.)
a. 1425. Rymer, Fœdera, IX. 918/1. In all manere of thynges concernyng th’ Exercice of Governance.
1503–4. Act 19 Hen. VII., c. 35 § 2. All the evydences chartres and munymentes concernyng the premysses.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 1 b. The sentences of illumyned doctours concernynge perfeccyon.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 74. To enquire out the matter concernyng them that were consentyng to Beckets death.
1599. Shaks., Hen. V., I. i. 6. Some things of weight that taske our thoughts, concerning vs and France. Ibid. (1601), Twel. N., IV. ii. 54. What is the opinion of Pythagoras concerning Wilde-fowle?
1625. Bacon, Ess., Unity in Relig. (Arb.), 423. We shall therefore speake a few words, concerning the Unity of the Church.
a. 1654. Selden, Table-t. (Arb.), 18. A law concerning Leather, or any other Commodity.
1765. Wilkes, Corr. (1805), II. 204. As to all my proceedings here concerning the press.
† b. So concerning unto. Obs.
1530. Palsgr., Ep. 2. Some thyng … in writyng … concernyng unto this mater.
2. Where concerning does not agree with a preceding sb. expressed, and becomes entirely prepositional = Regarding, touching, in reference or relation to; about; of (as in quot. 1865). (Now rather formal and literary: perh. never colloquial.)
1535. Coverdale, 1 Cor. xvi. 1. Concernynge [Tindale of] the gadderynge that is made for the sayntes. Ibid. (1541), Old Faith, ix. Wks. (Parker Soc.), I. 63. Concerning the coming of John the Baptist.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., I. i. 228. But that is not the question, the question is concerning your marriage.
1611. Bible, Matt. xvi. 11. I spake it not to you concerning bread.
1725. De Foe, Voy. Round World (1840), 251. I asked him concerning the natives.
1752. Johnson, Rambler, No. 195, ¶ 11. Every servant … was examined concerning his departure.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. ix. 71. He will make no inquiries concerning you.
1822. Southey, in Q. Rev., XXVII. 2. A point concerning which … biographers have not been able to satisfy themselves.
1865. R. W. Dale, Jew. Temple, i. (1877), 15. What has been said concerning the greatness and glory of Christ.
3. The sense ‘as it concerns, as it relates to, as to’ (L. quo-ad, quantum ad, F. quant à), was formerly expressed by concerning alone, but usually by as concerning. (Now, more usually as it concerns, as concerns, as regards.)
1555. in Strype, Eccl. Mem., III. App. xliii. 120. That Christ was ordained, concerning his humanity and not concerning the Godhead.
1611. Bible, Philipp. iii. 6. As touching the law, a Pharise; concerning zeale, persecuting the Church; touching the righteousnesse which is in the Law, blameless [Greek κατὰ, Rhem. according to, Revised as touching].
1656. Cowley, Misc., Reason (1669), 27. When we trust Men concerning God, we then Trust not God concerning Men.
b. 1526–34. Tindale, Philipp. iii. 5. As concernynge the lawe, a pharisaye, and as concernynge ferventnes, I persecuted the congregation.
1588. Shaks., L. L. L., I. i. 203. The matter is to me, sir, as concerning Iaquenetta.
1611. Bible, Rom. ix. 5. Of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came.
1792. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), III. 442. Their government, or policy, as concerning themselves or other nations.
1818. Colebrooke, Import. Col. Corn. Its effect is perhaps … overrated, as concerning the direct cost of wrought goods.
† 4. Concerning might formerly be followed by an infin., or by a subord. clause; concerning for was used = ‘as to.’ Obs.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Par. John, 28 a. Iohns disciples did enuye Iesu, forasmuche as concernyng he hymself was lately baptyzed of Iohn, and had behaued hymself as though he had been his disciple … he would now sodainly make himself equal to him.
1560. P. Whitehorne, Arte of Warre (1573), 27 b. Concerning to learne how to handle the weapons. Ibid., 86 a. Concerning for other consideracions, they had twoo principall.
1611. Bible, Acts xiii. 34. As concerning that he raised him vp from the dead.
