verb
pertain
puh-TAYN
verb
1
To relate to or be relevant to something.
"These rules pertain only to full-time employees."
"The question pertains to last week's lecture."
2
To belong to something as a part, feature, or accessory.
"Certain privileges pertain to the role of team captain."
How to Use Pertain
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo be connected to or relevant to a particular subject.
When to use it
Formal; common in legal and official writing ("insofar as it pertains to...").
Common pairings
pertain to
as it pertains to
Word Forms
pertained past tense, pertains singular
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These rules _____ only to full-time employees.
Etymology
From Old French partenir/pertenir, from Latin pertinere ("to extend to, belong to"), from per- ("through") + tenere ("to hold").