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belong

/bɪˈlɒŋ/ verb

In Latin: insum Wiktionary

verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about belong at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. Be owned by; be in the possession of.
    This book belongs to me
  2. Be suitable or acceptable.
    This student somehow doesn't belong
  3. Be in the right place or situation.
    Where do these books belong?

Origin

From Middle English belongen, bilongen, from Middle English be- + longen (“to be fitting, be suitable”), from Old English langian (“to pertain to, suit”), equivalent to be- + long (“to belong”). Compare Saterland Frisian beloangje (“to attain, reach, meet”), Dutch belangen (“to concern”), German belangen (“to sue, concern”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)