appertain

verb

ap·per·tain ˌa-pər-ˈtān

appertained; appertaining; appertains

Synonyms of appertain next

intransitive verb

: to belong or be connected as a rightful part or attribute : pertain

Examples of appertain in a Sentence

the rights and privileges that appertain to marriage the doctrine that the swath of land between the Atlantic and the Pacific naturally appertained to the United States

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Ah, but a, b, and c above do not appertain to cancer. —

John Rosemond, charlotteobserver, 11 May 2017

Word History

Etymology

Middle English apertenen, apartenen, apperteinen "to belong (to) by nature or right, be appropriate (to), have reference (to)," borrowed from Anglo-French appurtenir, appertenir, apartenir "to belong, be fitting" (continental Old French apartenir), going back to Late Latin appertinēre "to belong, be suitable," from Latin ap- ap- + pertinēre "to reach, be directed, pertain"

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of appertain was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Appertain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appertain. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

appertain

verb

ap·per·tain ˌap-ər-ˈtān

: pertain sense 1

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

victuals

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

appertain

verb

Synonyms

Examples of appertain in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near appertain

Cite this Entry