pertain

[ per-teyn ]
See synonyms for: pertainpertainingpertains on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)
  1. to have reference or relation; relate: documents pertaining to the lawsuit.

  2. to belong or be connected as a part, adjunct, possession, or attribute.

  1. to belong properly or fittingly; be appropriate.

Origin of pertain

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English pertenen, partenen, perteinen, from Middle French partein-, stem of partenir, from Latin pertinēre “to be applicable,” literally, “to hold through, reach,” equivalent to per- per- + -tinēre, combining form of tenēre “to hold”

Words Nearby pertain

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use pertain in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pertain

pertain

/ (pəˈteɪn) /


verb(intr often foll by to)
  1. to have reference, relation, or relevance: issues pertaining to women

  2. to be appropriate: the product pertains to real user needs

  1. to belong (to) or be a part (of); be an adjunct, attribute, or accessory (of)

Origin of pertain

1
C14: from Latin pertinēre, from per- (intensive) + tenēre to hold

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012