to belong or be connected as a part, adjunct, possession, or attribute.
3.
to belong properly or fittingly; be appropriate.
Origin
1300-50;Middle Englishpertenen, partenen, perteinen < Middle Frenchpartein-, tonic stem of partenir < Latinpertinēre to be applicable, literally, to hold through, reach, equivalent to per-per- + -tinēre, combining form of tenēre to hold
Related forms
unpertaining, adjective
Examples from the web for pertain
Much of the freedom and leisure to think that used to pertain in academia is gone.
Some of the most intriguing ones pertain to locomotion.
How this might pertain to choices that people might make is, as yet, unclear.
The centralized plant efficiencies of 35% that you state pertain only to coal fired plants.
Those ethical codes pertain to their medical profession, only.
So the galactic environment does pertain to that of the solar system.
Ceaseless and incessant pertain to uninterrupted activity: The ceaseless thunder of the surf eroded the beach.
The conclusions always pertain to the starting conditions.
The 'fines and hurdles' you refer to pertain only to those seeking citizenship.
Forums were made for the discussion of questions, of the interest to which they pertain.
British Dictionary definitions for pertain
pertain
/pəˈteɪn/
verb (intransitive) often foll by to
1.
to have reference, relation, or relevance: issues pertaining to women
2.
to be appropriate: the product pertains to real user needs
3.
to belong (to) or be a part (of); be an adjunct, attribute, or accessory (of)
Word Origin
C14: from Latin pertinēre, from per- (intensive) + tenēre to hold
Word Origin and History for pertain
v.
early 14c., from Old French partenir "to belong to" and directly from Latin pertinere "to reach, stretch; relate, have reference to; belong, be the right of; be applicable," from per- "through" (see per) + tenere "to hold" (see tenet). Related: Pertained; pertaining.