Concert n. (as in “a rock concert”) comes from the Italian concertare - to accord together, to tune or harmonize together, or to play music together.
[But what about a concert by a solo musician? How is that a case of people playing together? It isn’t, which is why a solo performance is traditionally called a recital, not a concert.]
The noun concert can also mean agreement or harmony; this is a natural extension of the idea of musical harmony.
To do something, not necessarily musical, in concert is to do so by acting jointly.
Concert v. is a rare, formal verb that means to plan or arrange together, by mutual agreement (i.e. “in concert”).
Concerted adj.: planned, arranged, or carried out in collaboration; coordinated. Only two or more parties – people, countries, whatever – can make “a concerted effort.” Hence the title of today’s post.
Disconcert v.: to unsettle someone: disturb someone’s complacency or emotional composure. This is not a precise opposite of the English verb concert, but the meaning of disconcert does make sense from the etymology. The prefix dis- here indicates reversal. To disconcert someone is to reverse the harmonious, peaceful emotional state that is suggested by the Italian verb concertare.
Disconcerting and disconcerted are adjectives straightforwardly derived from the verb disconcert.
