Origin: 1300–50; ME pertenen, partenen, perteinen < MF partein-, tonic s. of partenir < L pertinēre to be applicable, lit., to hold through, reach, equiv. to per-per-+ -tinēre, comb. form of tenēre to hold
c.1350, from O.Fr. partenir "to belong," from L. pertinere "to reach, stretch, relate, have reference to," from per- "through" + tenere "to hold" (see tenet).