pertain
UK /pəˈteɪn/ · US /pɚˈteɪn/ verb
Forms pertains pertaining pertained
- verb (intransitive) To belong to or be connected as a part, adjunct, attribute, or accessory. “That spare wheel pertains to this car.”
- verb (intransitive) To relate to, concern, or be relevant to. “That question doesn't pertain to the topic, so I'm not going to answer it.”
- verb (intransitive) To apply; to be or remain in place; to continue to be applicable.
- verb To be appropriate or suitable.
Synonyms
belong relate concern apply suit befit appertain affect bear upon bear on impact involve refer regard touch come to touch on have-to doe with
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English pertenen, from Old French partenir, pertenir (modern French appartenir), in turn from Latin pertineō, pertinēre.
Webster’s 1913
- verb To belong; to have connection with, or dependence on, something, as an appurtenance, attribute, etc.; to appertain; as, saltness pertains to the ocean; flowers pertain to plant life.
- verb To have relation or reference to something.
Etymology [OE. partenen, OF. partenir, fr. L. pertinere to stretch out, reach, pertain; per + tenere to hold, keep. See Per-, and Tenable, and cf. Appertain, Pertinent.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “pertain”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details