pertain

verb per·tain \ pər-ˈtān \

|Updated on: 21 Aug 2018

Examples: pertain in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of pertain

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

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pertain was our Word of the Day on 05/25/2013. Hear the podcast!

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 of pertain from the Web

The audit found 11 violations of state amusement park regulations, mostly pertaining to record-keeping and safety signs.

— samuel chamberlain, Fox News, "Kansas water park to tear down slide 2 years after boy's beheading," 12 July 2018
The defense attorney also contends that documents pertaining to Noreen Rudd’s life insurance policies, of which Donnie Rudd was the beneficiary, should not have been admissible.

— george houde, chicagotribune.com, "Donnie Rudd's future after guilty verdict in wife's '73 death: Prison — and another murder charge?," 8 July 2018
For instance, Verrengia said the extended hours should only pertain to patrons who are gambling, similar to what is being required in Springfield.

— kenneth r. gosselin, courant.com, "Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun Seek Extension Of 'Last Call' At Casinos," 28 June 2018
Some of the women will have records pertaining to their hospitalization from giving birth.

— kaila philo, The New Republic, "The Caribbean Immigrants Who Transformed Britain," 22 June 2018
So, taking meetings pertaining to Ukraine would be under his purview.

— cynthia sewell, idahostatesman, "Manafort lobbyists met with Idaho's Jim Risch, leading to claim of illegal donations," 14 June 2018
He was convicted of second-degree murder in 2011 and sent to prison before a judge overturned the guilty verdict because his attorney in the first trial, Kirk Kirkconnell, did not properly object to evidence pertaining to his right to remain silent.

— gal tziperman lotan, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Former Isleworth millionaire Bob Ward sentenced to 30 years in prison," 14 June 2018
The department also has put together a short public service video reminding pedestrians and vehicle operators of laws pertaining to crosswalks.

— record staff report, The Aegis, "Aberdeen police enforce crosswalk laws, produce pedestrian safety video," 13 June 2018
Generally, claims by aliens pertaining to domestic violence or gang violence perpetrated by non-governmental actors will not qualify for asylum.

— jameelah nasheed, Teen Vogue, "Jeff Sessions Decided That Domestic Abuse and Gang Violence Aren't Grounds for Asylum," 12 June 2018

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

Did You Know?

Pertain comes to us 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, obtain, maintain, 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.

Origin and Etymology of pertain

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

See Words from the same year