From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Pertain \Per*tain"\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Pertained}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Pertaining}.] [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}.]
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.
[1913 Webster]
Men hate those who affect that honor by ambition
which pertaineth not to them. --Hayward.
[1913 Webster]
2. To have relation or reference to something.
[1913 Webster]
These words pertain unto us at this time as they
pertained to them at their time. --Latimer.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
pertain
v 1: be relevant to; "There were lots of questions referring to
her talk"; "My remark pertained to your earlier comments"
[syn: {refer}, {pertain}, {relate}, {concern}, {come to},
{bear on}, {touch}, {touch on}, {have-to doe with}]
2: be a part or attribute of [syn: {pertain}, {appertain}]
|
