pertain

English

Pronunciation

Etymology

From Old French partenir (French: appartenir), in turn from Latin pertineō.

Verb

pertain (third-person singular simple present pertains, present participle pertaining, simple past and past participle pertained)

  1. (intransitive) to belong
  2. (intransitive) to relate, to refer, be relevant to

Usage notes

  • In all the above senses, pertain is followed by to (or formerly by unto, as in The King James Version of The Bible and in the plays of Shakespeare, although to is used in these works as well).

Quotations

(relate):

  • 1989, Sort out any booklets or manuals that pertain to the heating system or any other fixture that you are leaving behind. — One's company, Underwood, Lynn, Southampton: Ashford.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translations

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Anagrams

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Last modified on 20 May 2013, at 17:12