pertain

[ per-teyn ]

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.
3. to belong properly or fittingly; be appropriate.

pertain

/ pəˈteɪn /

verb

1. to have reference, relation, or relevance

   issues pertaining to women

2. to be appropriate

   the product pertains to real user needs

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of pertain¹

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of pertain¹

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

Example Sentences

The doubts voters express pertain to her character as well as her vision.

From Salon

They also believe that White Christian men are the authorities in this nation and that society should be structured according to their values and beliefs that pertain to how we order our public schools, our laws, our approaches to reproductive rights, and our understandings of sexuality and gender.

From Salon

Name, image, and likeness, or NIL, laws usually pertain to the rights of individuals, particularly student-athletes, to profit from their personal brand.

From Slate

Capitol in an effort to overturn a democratic election, nor does it pertain to Trump allegedly taking top-secret national security documents with him to Mar-a-Lago after leaving office.

From Salon

His bit of dishonesty was in service of hiding the actual charges — which pertain to Trump's efforts to hide his adultery from the public with an illegal cover-up using hush money paid to Daniels — from Fox viewers.

From Salon

Related Words

• apply
• refer
• relate