Literary notes about pertaining (AI summary)
The term "pertaining" functions as a precise linking adjective that connotes a relationship or relevance to something specific, whether that be an object, concept, institution, or abstract idea. In historical and legal writings, it often qualifies locations, properties, or rights, as in instances describing estates and landholdings or titles related to royalty and church ([1], [2], [3], [4]). In philosophical and theological texts, it marks distinctions between different realms of thought or existence, such as the differentiation between worldly matters and metaphysical judgments ([5], [6], [7]). It is equally employed in technical contexts, describing functions, procedures, or literal characteristics, like in discussions about railway signalling or biological attributes ([8], [9]). Across these varied domains, "pertaining" consistently serves to tightly bind an object or idea to its associated field or property.
- Lower down in Trinity lane, on the east side thereof, was sometime a great messuage pertaining unto John, earl of Cornwall, in the 14th of Edward III.
— from The Survey of London by John Stow - Adjoining to this chapel, on the south side, was sometime a fair and large library, furnished with books, pertaining to the Guildhall and college.
— from The Survey of London by John Stow - Another tower, or castle, also was there in the west part of the city pertaining to the king.
— from The Survey of London by John Stow - Moreover, he gave them the lordship and manor of Southwark, with all members and rights thereof, late pertaining to the monastery of Bermondsey.
— from The Survey of London by John Stow - We must distinguish judgments pertaining to metaphysics from metaphysical judgments properly so called.
— from Kant's Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics by Immanuel Kant - Time, therefore, is not a thing in itself, nor is it any objective determination pertaining to, or inherent in things.
— from The Critique of Pure Reason by Immanuel Kant - But since the name of Christ comes from the chrism or anointing, something pertaining to the great mystery was certainly represented in this.
— from The City of God, Volume II by Bishop of Hippo Saint Augustine - We have dealt with the signalling arrangements pertaining to double lines of railway, showing that
— from How it Works by Archibald Williams - BRANCHIAL.—Pertaining to gills or branchiae.
— from The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection by Charles Darwin
