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appertain

[ap-er-teyn]
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verb (used without object)
  1. to belong as a part, right, possession, attribute, etc.; pertain or relate (usually followed by to): privileges that appertain to members of the royal family.
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Origin of appertain

1350–1400; Middle English a(p)perte(y)nen < Old French apertenir. See ap-1, pertain
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for appertain

Historical Examples

  • Mrs. Merton had undertaken the duties that appertain to the "hissing urn."

    Alice, or The Mysteries, Complete

    Edward Bulwer-Lytton

  • Yet there are several characteristics which appertain to the whole continent.

  • To you only it will appertain to decide whether you will be converted or no.

    En Route

    J.-K. (Joris-Karl) Huysmans

  • The consideration of hypnotic cures does not appertain to our theme.

  • Where are the houses, the palaces, that should appertain to these lordly parks?

British Dictionary definitions for appertain

appertain

verb
  1. (intr usually foll by to) to belong (to) as a part, function, right, etc; relate (to) or be connected (with)
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Word Origin

C14: from Old French apertenir to belong, from Late Latin appertinēre, from Latin ad- + pertinēre to pertain
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

Word Origin and History for appertain

v.

late 14c., from Anglo-French apartenir, Old French apartenir (12c.) "be related to; be incumbent upon," from Late Latin appertinere "to pertain to," from ad- "to, completely" (see ad-) + pertinere "to belong to" (see pertain). To belong as parts to the whole, or as members to a family or class. Related: Appertained; appertaining.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper