pertain, v.
(pəˈteɪn)
Forms: 4–6 par-, pertene, -teyne, 5 -tyne, -tiene, -tine, 5–6 -teigne, -tayne, 6 partein, 6–7 pertaine, 4 -tein(e, 7 -tayn, 6– pertain.
[ME. par-, pertene, -teyne, a. OF. parten-ir (3rd pres. Norman parten-t, parten-ent, subj. partene, -teigne: cf. contain) = Pr. pertener, It. pertenere to belong:—L. pertinēre to extend, stretch, tend (to), belong (to), f. per- 1 + tenēre to hold.]
1. intr. To belong, be connected (in various ways); e.g. as a native or inhabitant, as part of a whole, as an appendage or accessory, as dependent. Const. to.
| c 1350 Will. Palerne 1419 All þe grete, Of lordes & ladies þat to þat lond partened. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) II. 121 From þat tyme þe citee and þe see of Dorchestre perteyned and longede to þe prouince of Mercia. 1483 Act 1 Rich. III, c. 6 §1 To euery of the same Feyres is of right perteynyng a court of Pepowders to mynystre to theim due Justice. 1532 Frith Mirror i. Wks. (1829) 266 Whether they be outward gifts or inward, pertaining either to the body or soul. 1546 Reg. Privy Council Scot. I. 28 The samin [house] and landis pertenand thairto. 1611 Shakes. Wint. T. v. iii. 113 If she pertaine to life, let her speake too. 1850 Grove Corr. Phys. Forces (ed. 2) 89, I have purposely avoided this subject, as pertaining to a department of science to which I have not devoted my attention. 1859 C. Barker Assoc. Princ. iii. 62 Scenes which pertain to an age happily passed away. |
† b. spec. To belong as a possession, legal right, or privilege. Obs.
| c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 140 Þe sheep perteynen not to him. 1425 Rolls of Parlt. IV. 298/1 Suche service as pertienneth of honeste to my said Lord. 1526 Tindale Mark xii. 17 Geve to Cesar that which belongeth to Cesar: and geve God that which perteyneth to God. 1592 Davies Immort. Soul vii. iii. (1714) 46 To create, to God alone pertains. 1609 Skene Reg. Maj. 11 The persewer may alledge the lands to perteine to him. 1630 Prynne Anti-Armin. 144 The real intention, benefit, and application of his death..pertains not vnto all. |
c. To belong as one's care or concern. to pertain to: to matter to, to concern. Obs. or arch.
| 1382 Wyclif Mark iv. 38 Maistre, perteneth it nat to thee, that we perishen? 1470–85 Malory Arthur xvi. xi. 679 But thow wenest to rescowe a mayde whiche perteyneth no thynge to the. 1549 Latimer 3rd Serm. bef. Edw. VI (Arb.) 85 Thy syluer is drosse... What pertained that to Esay? c 1696 Prior Love Disarmed 27 To me pertains not, she replies, To know or care where Cupid flies. 1870 Bryant Iliad I. vi. 207 The cares of war Pertain to all men born in Troy. |
d. To belong as an attribute, fitting adjunct, or duty; to be appropriate to.
| 1375 Barbour Bruce xiii. 728 In that tuelf moneth suld he Cum and clayme it, and tharfor do To the king that pertenyt thar-to. 1423 Jas. I Kingis Q. cvii, Though It to me pertene In lufis lawe the septre to gouerne. 1447 O. Bokenham Seyntys (Roxb.) 44 Anne is as myche to seyn as grace..worthyly thys appellacyoun To hyr pertenyth. 1552 Bk. Com. Prayer, Order. Deacons, It perteineth to thoffice of a Deacon..to assist the Prieste. 1577–87 Holinshed Chron. III. 2/2 Requiring at your hands the things which perteine to peace. 1688 R. Holme Armoury iii. 321/1 There are..these Tools and Instruments pertaining to the Iron Workers. 1773–83 Hoole Orl. Fur. xix. 522 Weapons that pertain to war. 1861 M. Pattison Ess. (1889) l. 47 To keep an iron helmet and harness, and all arms pertaining to a complete furnishing for war. |
2. To have reference or relation; to relate to.
| c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) xxxiv. 152 Spicery and all maner of oþer gudez, and namely þat partenez to mannez lyflade. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) IV. 417 William Malmesbur..supposenge the writenge of that ston to perteyne to Marius the consul of Rome. 1526 Tindale 2 Pet. i. 3 All thynges that pertayne vnto lyfe. 1611 Bible Transl. Pref. 2 Specially if it pertaine to Religion. a 1770 Jortin Serm. (1771) III. iii. 47 This law pertains, first to vows made to God himself and confirmed by an oath. 1841 Borrow Zincali I. i. 233 We..discoursed on matters pertaining to our people. |
† 3. In both senses (1 and 2), formerly sometimes with an indirect (dative) object without to. Cf. belong v. 3. Obs. or dial.
| 1472–3 Rolls of Parlt. VI. 52/1 Answere in and to all such Writte and Writtes, Bille and Billes,..perteynyng any of the premisses. 1535 Lyndesay Satyre 3354 My coattis, and my offrands, With all that dois perteine my benefice. 1553 in Maitl. Cl. Misc. (1840) I. 41 note, I, wyth all ffreindis pertening me. 1628 (title of MS.) Booke of the Land perteyninge the Famyly of the Twysdens in Kent. |
† 4. The 3rd pers. sing. impersonally, and the pres. pple. were used in the phrases as pertains to, as pertaining to = as regards, as concerns, in regard to, in relation to. Obs. (or arch.)
| 1526 Tindale Rom. iv. 1 Abraham oure father, as pertayninge [so 1611; 1881 R.V. according] to the flesshe. ― Heb. ix. 9 Gyftes and sacrifises are offered which cannot make them that minister parfect, as pertaynynge to [1881 R.V. as touching] the conscience. 1568 Bible (Bishops') Rom. ix. 3 My kinsmen as parteyneth to the fleashe. |
Hence perˈtaining vbl. n. (also pl. in concr. sense = ‘belongings’) and ppl. a.
| 1591 Percivall Sp. Dict., Pertenencia, perteining. 1869 Bushnell Wom. Suffrage v. 90 These things are duly considered as pertainings of a woman's lot. 1889 Electrical Rev. 29 Nov. 607/1 Seven houses and their pertainings. 1898 E. Phillpotts Childr. of Mist i. v, The pertaining farm already had a tenant. |