ABSTRACT
The Danish noun derives from the Middle Low German bekummeringe, also found in High German Bekümmerung (with the corresponding verb bekümmern). Two lexical meanings of Bekymring can be distinguished: first, a feeling of worry, anxiety, or concern, second, a feeling of responsibility, duty, or obligation. The first meaning has a tendency to merge into the latter. Accordingly, the verb bekymre means, first, to worry somebody or about somebody or something and, second, to take care of something or somebody.1
