appertain

ap·per·tain

verb \ˌa-pər-ˈtān\

Definition of APPERTAIN

intransitive verb

: to belong or be connected as a rightful part or attribute : pertain

Examples of APPERTAIN

1. the rights and privileges that appertain to marriage
2. <the doctrine that the swath of land between the Atlantic and the Pacific naturally appertained to the United States>

Origin of APPERTAIN

Middle English apperteinen, from Anglo-French apurtenir, from Late Latin appertinēre, from Latin ad- + pertinēre to belong — more at pertain

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to APPERTAIN

Synonyms: belong, pertain

Related Words: have, hold, own, possess

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with APPERTAIN

acid rain, aeroplane, aquaplane, Aquitaine, ascertain, Bloemfontein, bullet train, cell membrane, cellophane, Charlemagne, Charles's Wain, chatelain, chatelaine, counterpane, daisy-chain, down the drain, entertain, featherbrain, focal plane, foreordain, frangipane, free throw lane, gravy train, gyroplane, high-octane, hurricane, hydroplane, hyperplane, inclined plane, inhumane, Kwajalein, London plane, marocain, Mary Jane, memory lane, mise-en-scène, monoplane, Novocain, novocaine, paravane, paper-train, peneplain, pollen grain, Port of Spain, power train, preordain, pursuit plane, rattlebrain, rhizoplane, rocket plane, scatterbrain, shaggymane, Spanish Main, sugarcane, suzerain, take in vain, Tamerlane, tangent plane, terreplein, toilet train, tramontane, transmontane, unit train, urethane, wagon train, water main, weather vane, whooping crane, windowpane, yellow rain