pertain

Where does the word "pertain" come from? It comes from Latin tenere, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1300s).

Pertain’s story begins in Latin: tenere meant “to hold.” To hold, combined with per- (through). Within Latin, it grew into pertinere by ancient. To extend to, to belong to, from per- and tenere. From there it passed into Old French as partenir by medieval. Carried into French for being relevant or belonging to something. It reached English by 1300s as pertain. Settled as the English word for relating or belonging to something. Today, pertain means to relate or belong to something, or to be relevant to it.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient tenere "to hold", to hold, combined with per- (through).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient pertinere "to extend to, to belong to", to extend to, to belong to, from per- and tenere.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval partenir "to be relevant or belong to something", carried into French for being relevant or belonging to something.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1300s pertain "to relate or belong to something", settled as the English word for relating or belonging to something.