pertain
verb
intransitive verb
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
Example Sentences
Gene Maddaus, Variety, 1 Aug. 2022 The studies looked especially at front line workers, but the lessons pertain to all kinds of work in all kinds of areas. Tracy Brower, Forbes, 5 July 2022 The panel, whose recommendations pertain to California, also urged the creation of a special office charged with providing a pathway for financial reparations for Black residents, according to a draft version of the report examined by USA TODAY. Bill Keveney, USA TODAY, 1 June 2022 However, other speakers refuted these claims, saying that defendants can call and cross-examine witnesses as long as their queries pertain strictly to probable cause. Daedan Olander, The Salt Lake Tribune, 19 May 2022 All manner of rules and regulations that pertain for example to the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and the National Labor Relations Board (NRLB) are part of these gambits. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 13 Aug. 2022 The City Attorney’s Office has declined to release billing records that pertain strictly to the Ash Street cases. Jeff Mcdonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 July 2022 The partnership announced April 11 will provide students with education and training in a variety of areas that pertain to the esports industry. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2022 While many fines were pushed back, the new ordinance has exceptions for violations that pertain to access requirements for emergency responders or people with disabilities, as well as violations related to when a parklet has been abandoned. J.d. Morris, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Middle English perteinen, from Anglo-French partenir, purteiner, from Latin pertinēre to reach to, belong, from per- through + tenēre to hold — more at thin
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)
Kids Definition
pertain
verb
pertain
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- belong
- appertain
- possess
- own
- have
- hold
Synonyms & Similar Words
- relate
- apply
- refer
- appertain
- involve
- affect
- interest
- concern
- bear
- have to do with
- connect
- interrelate
- touch
- associate
- tie in
- link
- couple
- treat
- deal (with)