pertain

verb

per·​tain pər-ˈtān 

pertained; pertaining; pertains

intransitive verb

1

a(1)

: to belong as a part, member, accessory, or product

(2)

: to belong as an attribute, feature, or function

the destruction pertaining to war

(3)

: to belong as a duty or right

rights that pertain to fatherhood

b

: to be appropriate to something

which rule pertains?

2

: to have reference

books pertaining to birds

Did you know?

Pertain comes to English via Anglo-French from the Latin verb pertinēre, meaning "to reach to" or "to belong." Pertinēre, in turn, was formed by combining the prefix per- (meaning "through") and tenēre ("to hold"). Tenēre is a popular root in English words and often manifests with the -tain spelling that can be seen in pertain. Other descendants include abstain, contain, detain, maintain, obtain, retain, and sustain, to name a few of the more common ones. Not every -tain word has tenēre in its ancestry, though. Ascertain, attain, and certain are among the exceptions. And a few tenēre words don't follow the usual pattern: tenacious and tenure are two.

Synonyms

• appertain
• belong

Examples of pertain in a Sentence

books pertaining to the country's history

the belief that quality medical care is a right that pertains to everyone

Recent Examples on the Web

The first video, according to the FBI, falsely said the agency apprehended three groups committing ballot fraud and the second pertains to Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff. —Luke Barr, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2024

The case pertained only to Pennsylvania, whose 19 electoral votes are key to next week’s contest. —Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 31 Oct. 2024

Fact check: Harris called Trump, not Biden, 'unstable' in Fox interview USA TODAY has debunked an array of claims pertaining to presidential campaign events, including false assertions that Harris backed out of a Sept. 4 debate with Trump and that Biden backed out of debating Trump in May. —Brieanna J. Frank, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024

Industries often have regulations that pertain only to their business, as well. —Russ Kennedy, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English perteinen, from Anglo-French partenir, purteiner, from Latin pertinēre to reach to, belong, from per- through + tenēre to hold — more at thin

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

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Kids Definition

pertain

verb

per·​tain pər-ˈtān 

1

: to belong to a person or thing as a part, quality, or function

duties that pertain to an office

2

: to have reference

books pertaining to birds