v.
Pronunciation: p ə r- ' t ā n
Function: intransitive verb
Etymology: Middle English perteinen, from Anglo-French partenir, purteiner, from Latin pertin ē re to reach to, belong, from per- through + ten ē re to hold ― more at THIN
Date: 14th century
1 a (1) : to belong as a part, member, accessory, or product (2) : to belong as an attribute, feature, or function <the destruction and havoc pertain ing to war> (3) : to belong as a duty or right <responsibilities that pertain to fatherhood> b : to be appropriate to something <the criteria ⋯ will be different from those that pertain elsewhere ― J. B. Conant>
2 : to have reference <books pertain ing to birds>