Etymology 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”).
" 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.[1866, Henry Alford, A Plea for the Queen's English:
Ah! this is the elder of the two - not the one who belongs to Cornwall - I can see that chap still there, holding on to yonder spar.1878, James Francis Cobb, The Watchers on the Longships:
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With to To be the property of, or be bound to by dependency or as an attribute.
That house belongs to me.
Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke. He was dressed out in broad gaiters and bright tweeds, like an English tourist, and his face might have belonged to Dagon, idol of the Philistines.1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter II, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
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A turban and loincloth soaked in blood had been found; also a staff. These properties were known to have belonged to a toddy drawer. He had disappeared.1927, F. E. Penny, chapter 4, in Pulling the Strings:
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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.
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Mathematics, Sciences, Set theory (followed by to) To be an element of (a set). The symbol ∈ means belongs to.
More evils belong us than happen to us.1953, Ben Jonson, Timber: Or, Discoveries, page 70:
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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.1895, Joseph Thomas, Randigal Rhymes and a Glossary of Cornish Words, page 68:
[…] she belong to behave now she's growed up.1942, Charles Lee, Cornish Tales, page 234:
Etymology Compare Australian Kriol blanga, Bislama blong, Tok Pisin bilong, and Torres Strait Creole blong.
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Of, belonging to.
Australian Aboriginal; optionally followed by to; Australian Aboriginal; optionally followed by to
Jim Campbell, Charlie, Dick, ... Fred, lubra b’longa him, me, thass all.1915, E. R. Masson, Untamed Territory:
By an’ bye ’im grow ’m up make ’m good fella stockman b’longta you.1936, M. & E. Durack, Chunuma:
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Those who had persevered with the course and had acquired some skill were now almost deferentially called ‘Maban (expert) belonga clay’.1977, N. Kolig, Playing Alonga Mud:
Them two bin help’m too, and that father blung to this one old Frank.1986 December, Kowanyama News:
There’s the bloke that’s kill that feller, uncle belong you an me.1986, B. Shaw, Countrymen:
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.1991, D. B. Rose, Hidden Histories: