belong

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Verb 1.3.1 Derived terms 1.3.2 Translations 2 Kriol 2.1 Alternative spellings 2.2 Etymology 2.3 Pronunciation 2.4 Preposition 2.4.1 Quotations

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Middle English belongen, be- (“‘intensifier’”) + Old English langian (“‘pertain to, suit’”)

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK): IPA: /bɪˈlɒŋ/, SAMPA: /bI"lQN/
• (US): enPR: bĭ-lôngʹ, IPA: /bɪˈlɔŋ/, SAMPA: /bI"lON/

   Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Verb

to belong (third-person singular simple present belongs, present participle belonging, simple past and past participle belonged)

1. (intransitive) To have its proper place.

   Where does this document belong?

2. (intransitive) (of a person) To be accepted in a group.

   You don’t belong here — get out.

3. (intransitive) (followed by to) To be a part of a group.

   I don’t belong to them!

4. (intransitive) (followed by to) To be the property of.

   That house belongs to me.

5. (intransitive) (followed by to) To be the spouse or partner of.
6. (intransitive, set theory) (followed by to) To be an element of (a set). The symbol means belongs to.

   Suppose x belongs to ... (-- written: )

[edit] Derived terms

• belonging
• belongingness

[edit] Translations

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[edit] Kriol

[edit] Alternative spellings

• blung
• b’longta, b’longa, belonga, blonga

[edit] Etymology

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

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Preposition

belong

1. (northern Australian Aboriginal) (optionally followed by to) of, belonging to

[edit] Quotations

• 1915, E. R. Masson, Untamed Territory

  Jim Campbell, Charlie, Dick, ... Fred, lubra b’longa him, me, thass all.

• 1936, M. & E. Durack, Chunuma

  By an’ bye ’im grow ’m up make ’m good fella stockman b’longta you.

• 1977, N. Kolig, Playing Alonga Mud

  Those who had persevered with the course and had acquired some skill were now almost deferentially called ‘Maban (expert) belonga clay’.

• 1986, Kowanyama News, Dec.

  Them two bin help’m too, and that father blung to this one old Frank.

• 1986, B. Shaw, Countrymen

  There’s the bloke that’s kill that feller, uncle belong you an me.

• 1991, D. B. Rose, Hidden Histories

  Get that fire [wood] stacked up like that tree there, that high ... It wasn’t wood belong to that fire pile. Might be for station, or somebody else, you know.