appertain

UK: /ˌæpəˈteɪn/ US: /ˌæpərˈteɪn/ ,(ap′ər tān′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ap•per•tain /ˌæpərˈteɪn/   v. [~ + to]

1. to belong to (someone) as a right;
   relate to:
   privileges that appertain to royalty.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ap•per•tain  (ap′ər tān′), v.i. 

1. to belong as a part, right, possession, attribute, etc.;
   pertain or relate (usually fol. by to):
   privileges that appertain to members of the royal family.

• Old French apertenir. See ap-¹, pertain
• Middle English a(p)perte(y)nen 1350–1400

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

appertain / ˌæpəˈteɪn/ verb

1. (intransitive) usually followed by to: to belong (to) as a part, function, right, etc; relate (to) or be connected (with)

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French apertenir to belong, from Late Latin appertinēre, from Latin ad- + pertinēre to pertain