pertain

One entry found for pertain.

Main Entry: per·tain
Pronunciation: p&r-'tAn
Function: intransitive verb
Etymology: Middle English perteinen, from Anglo-French partenir, purteiner, from Latin pertinEre to reach to, belong, from per- through + tenEre to hold -- more at THIN
1 a (1) : to belong as a part, member, accessory, or product (2) : to belong as an attribute, feature, or function <the destruction and havoc pertaining to war> (3) : to belong as a duty or right <responsibilities that pertain to fatherhood> b : to be appropriate to something <the criteria...will be different from those that pertain elsewhere -- J. B. Conant>
2 : to have reference <books pertaining to birds>