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

This article was updated at 8:45 p.m. on Dec. 19 to include statements from federal officials and information pertaining to the affidavit. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 19 Dec. 2024

Inauguration Day in America and the return of Donald Trump to the White House could bring significant U.S. policy changes, not only in Ukraine but on issues pertaining to European security broadly. —Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024

The funds were allowed to be used for expenses like rent, payroll, utilities, job training, services pertaining to outdoor service delivery, infrastructure improvements to mitigate COVID-19, and technology for telework. —Brooke Conrad, Baltimore Sun, 17 Dec. 2024

Zuazo's attorney Michael McCarthy posed some questions during cross-examination pertaining to his client's identification as a suspect in the case. —Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 17 Dec. 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)

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