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

The policy, if followed, will keep administrators busy making many notifications to parents, a few of which would pertain to transgender students, the original aim of the policy. —Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024

The settlement pertains to customers who purchased affected products between Oct. 19, 2018, and Jan. 19, 2024. —Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 13 Apr. 2024

The rather short note pertains to clandestine aid from France to the American cause. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2024

The settlement pertains to charges issued to customers between Jan. 1, 2016, to Nov. 8, 2023, and those who were affected have until April 15 to file a claim. —Sarah Al-Arshani, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2024

The conspiracy count to which Wolfe pleaded guilty pertains to 15 victims, all adults. —Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2024

Twenty-five states around the country have passed bans or restrictions pertaining to trans athletes in just the last few years. —Laura Schulte, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024

The trademark applications Williams and his company filed pertained to the use of the Neptunes name for streaming music, music videos, and other content, as well as live performances. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 1 Apr. 2024

Listeners are encouraged to call into the show’s hotline, while Berner and Bishop dish out their best advice pertaining to all things relationships, life, social media and work. —Emily Weaver, Peoplemag, 30 Mar. 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)

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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