pertain

• POS: Verb (intransitive)
• HYPHEN: per=tain
• COUNT in NET: 3 in 3 verses (in OT : 2 in 2 verses) (in NT : 1 in 1 verses)

CIDE DICTIONARY

pertain, v. i. [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.].

•  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."  [1913 Webster]
•  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."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

pertain, v.intr.
1 (foll. by to) a relate or have reference to. b belong to as a part or appendage or accessory.
2 (usu. foll. by to) be appropriate to.

Etymology

ME f. OF partenir f. L pertinere (as PER-, tenere hold)

THESAURUS

pertain

affect, appertain, appertain to, apply, apply to, associate, bear, bear on, befit, combine, concern, connect, cover, include, join, pertain to, refer to, regard, relate, relate to, vest