belong
pronunciation
How to pronounce belong in British English:
UK [bɪˈlɒŋ]
How to pronounce belong in American English:
US [bɪˈlɔːŋ]
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- Verb:
- be owned by; be in the possession of
- originate (in)
- be suitable or acceptable
- be in the right place or situation
- be classified with
Word Origin
- belong
- belong: [14] Old English had a verb langian, meaning ‘pertain to’. It had no immediate connection with the other Old English verb langian, modern English long, ‘desire’, but came from the Old English adjective gelang ‘pertaining, belonging’ (although ultimately this gelang and the modern English adjective and verb long come from the same Germanic source, *langgaz). The intensive prefix be- was added in the 14th century.=> long
- belong (v.)
- mid-14c., "to go along with, properly relate to," from be- intensive prefix, + longen "to go," from Old English langian "pertain to, to go along with," which is of unknown origin. Senses of "be the property of" and "be a member of" first recorded late 14c. Cognate with Middle Dutch belanghen, Dutch belangen, German belangen. Replaced earlier Old English gelang, with completive prefix ge-.
Example
- 1. But it probably does belong in the design museum .
- 2. Those who belong to christ don 't live in fear of condemnation .
- 3. Because he built me , I belong entirely to him .
- 4. We know to which generation we belong .
- 5. It tells us who we are and where we belong .