c. 1400, "a concave surface," from Old French concavit "hollow, concavity" (14c.) or directly from Latin concavitatem (nominative concavitas), from Latin concavus "hollow, arched, vaulted, curved," from con-, here probably an intensive prefix (see con-), + cavus "hollow" (from PIE root *keue- "to swell," also "vault, hole"). From 1570s as "state of being concave."
