Pertinere

Pertinere is a Latin verb meaning to pertain, relate, or belong to; it can also mean to reach, extend toward, or be relevant. In classical Latin it is used to connect a subject with a matter, domain, or object of discussion. The verb is frequently used in impersonal constructions meaning “it pertains” or “it is relevant,” often with ad or de phrases indicating the domain or topic (for example, hoc ad rem pertinet, This concerns the matter).

Grammatically, pertineo belongs to the second conjugation (-eo verbs). Its principal parts are pertineo, pertinere, pertinui, pertentum. The present active indicative forms are pertineo, pertines, pertinet, pertinemus, pertinetis, pertinent. The perfect is pertinui; the imperfect and future forms follow the standard -ere verb patterns. The participle pertinen- appears as pertinens (present participle “pertaining”), giving English loanword pertinent.

Etymology and cognates: Pertineo is formed from per- “through, toward” and tenēo “to hold, keep.” The meaning evolved from “to hold to” or “to reach toward” to the sense of relating or belonging. The term has influenced several lexical items in English, notably the adjective pertinent, and the verb pertain describes something that relates.

In Latin literature, pertinere occurs in legal, rhetorical, and religious texts to indicate relevance or jurisdiction. In modern languages, descendants include English pertinent/pertain, French pertinent, and Spanish pertinente.