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definitions

pertain

[ per-teyn ]
/ pərˈteɪn /
|
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verb (used without object)

to have reference or relation; relate: documents pertaining to the lawsuit.
to belong or be connected as a part, adjunct, possession, or attribute.
to belong properly or fittingly; be appropriate.

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RELATED WORDS

connected, referring, related, relevant

Nearby words

  1. persulfate,
  2. persulfuric acid,
  3. persulphuric acid,
  4. pert,
  5. pert.,
  6. perth,
  7. perth amboy,
  8. perth and kinross,
  9. perthes disease,
  10. perthite

Origin of pertain

1300–50; Middle English pertenen, partenen, perteinen < Middle French partein-, tonic stem of partenir < Latin pertinēre to be applicable, literally, to hold through, reach, equivalent to per- per- + -tinēre, combining form of tenēre to hold
Related formsun·per·tain·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for pertaining

British Dictionary definitions for pertaining

pertain

/ (pəˈteɪn) /

verb (intr often foll by to)

to have reference, relation, or relevanceissues pertaining to women
to be appropriatethe product pertains to real user needs
to belong (to) or be a part (of); be an adjunct, attribute, or accessory (of)

Word Origin for pertain

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
Word Origin and History for pertaining

pertain

v.

early 14c., from Old French partenir "to belong to" and directly from Latin pertinere "to reach, stretch; relate, have reference to; belong, be the right of; be applicable," from per- "through" (see per) + tenere "to hold" (see tenet). Related: Pertained; pertaining.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper