Belonging
/bɪˈlɒŋɪŋ/noun
The feeling of being accepted, included, or appropriately connected to a person, group, or place.
Did you know?Belong derives from Middle English belongen, meaning “to pertain to” or “be suitable,” so belonging originally described a relationship of rightful connection rather than merely an emotion.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dlonghos
“Long; extended in space or time”
Ancient Germanic
Proto-Germanic
*langaz
“Long or extended”
Old English
Old English
gelang
“At hand, together with, or belonging to”
Middle English
Middle English
belongen
“To pertain to, be suitable for, or be the property of”
14th Century
Middle English
belonging
“A possession or something connected with a person or place”
Modern English
English
belonging
“A state of being accepted, included, or connected”