PERTAIN
pertain, appertain
(verb) be a part or attribute of
refer, pertain, relate, concern, come to, bear on, touch, touch on, have to do with
(verb) be relevant to; “There were lots of questions referring to her talk”; “My remark pertained to your earlier comments”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Verb
pertain (third-person singular simple present pertains, present participle pertaining, simple past and past participle pertained)
(intransitive) to belong to or be a part of; be an adjunct, attribute, or accessory of
(intransitive) to relate, to refer, be relevant to
(intransitive) To apply; to be or remain in place; to continue to be applicable
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).
Synonyms
• appertain
Antonyms
• be irrelevant
Anagrams
• Painter, Parenti, apterin, painter, pine tar, repaint, terapin
Source: Wiktionary
Per*tain", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Pertained; p. pr. & vb. n. Pertaining.] Etym: [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.]
1. 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. Men hate those who affect that honor by ambition which pertaineth not to them. Hayward.
2. To have relation or reference to something. These words pertain unto us at this time as they pertained to them at their time. Latimer.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
9 May 2025
RIGHT
(noun) anything in accord with principles of justice; “he feels he is in the right”; “the rightfulness of his claim”
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