Pertinency

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈpɜː(ɹ)tɪnənsi/

Definitions

1. The characteristic of being relevant or applicable to a specific subject informs its importance and suitability in social or academic contexts
2. The quality of relevance regarding a particular issue reflects the significance and appropriateness of information or ideas in various discussions
3. The state of being closely connected or appropriate to the topic at hand

Etymology: "Pertinency" comes from Latin "pertinēre," a compound of "per" (through, thoroughly) and "tenēre" (to hold). The root image is of something that reaches through to a target and holds onto it, which fits the modern sense of a remark that stays on the matter at hand rather than drifting off into side issues. The English noun is formed by adding the suffix "-cy" to "pertinent," the adjective that descends from the same Latin verb. English has a whole family of nouns in "-ncy" and "-ency" (such as "constancy" and "frequency") that let writers turn an adjective into an abstract quality, so "pertinency" names the state of being pertinent rather than any single relevant thing.

Synonyms: relevance, applicability, relation, connection, pertinence

Antonyms: irrelevance, unrelatedness, inapplicability, disconnection, insignificance