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pertain

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)

Origin: 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.