appertain

verb ap·per·tain \ ˌa-pər-ˈtān \

Examples: appertain in a Sentence

Definition of appertain

appertained; appertaining; appertains

intransitive verb

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

See appertain defined for English-language learners

See appertain defined for kids

Examples of appertain in a Sentence

the rights and privileges that appertain to marriage
the doctrine that the swath of land between the Atlantic and the Pacific naturally appertained to the United States

Recent Examples of appertain from the Web

Ah, but a, b, and c above do not appertain to cancer.

— john rosemond, charlotteobserver, "John Rosemond: ADHD column drew opposing responses," 11 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'appertain.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of appertain

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year