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belong

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belong¹

  • /bɪˈlɒŋ/ UK, Wales
  • /bɪˈlɔŋ/ British, Scotland, Southern, Standard
  • /bɪˈlɒŋ/
  • /bɪˈlɒŋɡ/
  • /bɪˈlɔŋ/
  • /bɪˈlɑŋ/ cot caught merger

Rhymes with -ɒŋ

Where it comes from

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der.

Proto-Indo-European *h₁épsder.

Proto-Indo-European *h₁épider.

Proto-Indo-European *h₁pi

Proto-Germanic *bider.

Proto-Germanic *bi-

Proto-West Germanic *bi-

Old English be-

Middle English be-

Proto-Germanic *langōną

Proto-West Germanic *langōn

Old English langian

Middle English longen

Middle English belongen

English belong

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”).

verb belongs · belonging · belonged

  1. intransitive To have its proper place. Where does this book belong? It belongs on the top shelf.
  2. intransitive To be accepted in a group. You don’t belong here — get out.
  3. intransitive, with to To be a part of a group. I don’t belong to the Southside Crew.
  4. dated, informal, intransitive, obsolete To live in or be from a place. " We have," he says, "in these parts a provincial usage of the word "belong:" as, "belong to Halifax," "belong to Leeds: "or, more commonly, "belong Halifax," "belong Leeds:" meaning, live there.
  5. intransitive, with to To be the property of, or be bound to by dependency or as an attribute. That house belongs to me.
  6. intransitive, with to To be the spouse or partner of. John wanted to ask Mary out on a date, but learned that Mary belonged to another man.
  7. intransitive (followed by to) To be an element of (a set). The symbol ∈ means belongs to. Suppose x belongs to #92;mathbb#123;R#125;…
  8. obsolete, transitive To be deserved by. More evils belong us than happen to us.
  9. Cornwall To do something habitually or customarily. Belong. To be accustomed; to be due. He belongs to go every day. The 'bus belongs to start soon.

belong²

  • /bɪˈlɒŋ/ UK, Wales
  • /bɪˈlɔŋ/ British, Scotland, Southern, Standard
  • /bɪˈlɒŋ/
  • /bɪˈlɒŋɡ/
  • /bɪˈlɔŋ/
  • /bɪˈlɑŋ/ cot caught merger

Rhymes with -ɒŋ

Where it comes from

Compare Australian Kriol blanga, Bislama blong, Tok Pisin bilong, and Torres Strait Creole blong.

preposition blung · b'longta · b'longa · belonga · blonga

  1. Of, belonging to. Jim Campbell, Charlie, Dick, ... Fred, lubra b’longa him, me, thass all.

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