pertain Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb be relevant to
    touch on; relate; have-to doe with; bear on; touch; come to; refer; concern.
    • There were lots of questions referring to her talk
    • My remark pertained to your earlier comments
  2. verb be a part or attribute of
    appertain.

WordNet

Per*tain" intransitive verb
Etymology
OE. partenen, OF. partenir, fr. L. pertinere to stretch out, reach, pertain; per + tenere to hold, keep. See Per-, and Tenable, and cf. Appertain, Pertinent.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Pertained ; present participle & verbal noun Pertaining
Definitions
  1. To belong; to have connection with, or dependence on, something, as an appurtenance, attribute, etc.; to appertain; as, saltness pertains to the ocean; flowers pertain to plant life.
    Men hate those who affect that honor by ambition which pertaineth not to them. Hayward.
  2. To have relation or reference to something.
    These words pertain unto us at this time as they pertained to them at their time. Latimer.

Webster 1913