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belong

 [bih-lawng, -long]   Example Sentences Origin

be·long

   [bih-lawng, -long]
verb (used without object)
1.
to be in the relation of a member, adherent, inhabitant, etc. (usually followed by to): He belongs to the Knights of Columbus.
2.
to have the proper qualifications, especially social qualifications, to be a member of a group: You don't belong in this club.
3.
to be proper or due; be properly or appropriately placed, situated, etc.: Books belong in every home. This belongs on the shelf. He is a statesman who belongs among the great.
Verb phrase
4.
belong to,
a.
to be the property of: The book belongs to her.
b.
to be a part or adjunct of: That cover belongs to this jar.

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Belong is one of our favorite verbs.
So is kibitz. Does it mean:
chat, to converse
to steal or take dishonestly (money, esp. public funds, or property entrusted to one's care); embezzle.
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Origin:
1300–50; Middle English belongen, equivalent to be- be- + longen to belong, verbal derivative of long (adj.) belonging, Old English gelang along1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To belong
Example Sentences
  • She said such people did not belong in academe, whatever their other accomplishments.
  • But more differences imply that a new specimen may belong to a new category altogether.
  • Even before a gender determination is made, researchers must figure out if remains belong to a human or a nonhuman animal.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
belong (bɪˈlɒŋ)
 
—vb (foll by to, under, with, etc)
1.  (foll by to) to be the property or possession (of)
2.  (foll by to) to be bound to (a person, place, or club) by ties of affection, dependence, allegiance, or membership
3.  to be classified (with): this plant belongs to the daisy family
4.  (foll by to) to be a part or adjunct (of): this top belongs to the smaller box
5.  to have a proper or usual place: that plate belongs in the cupboard
6.  informal to be suitable or acceptable, esp socially: although they were rich, they just didn't belong
 
[C14 belongen, from be- (intensive) + longen; related to Old High German bilangēn to reach; see long³]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

belong
mid-14c., "to go along with, relate to," from be- intensive prefix, + O.E. langian "pertain to, to go along with." Sense of "to be the property of" first recorded late 14c. Related to M.Du. belanghen, Du. belangen, Ger. belangen. Replaced earlier O.E. gelang, with completive prefix ge-.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

belong

see to the victor belong the spoils.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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