adv. Before the &unr_;apse of a long time; soon; -- usually separated, ere long. [ 1913 Webster ]

A man, . . . following the stag, erelong slew him. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

The world, erelong, a world of tears must weep. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Belonged p. pr. & vb. n. Belonging. ] [ OE. belongen (akin to D. belangen to concern, G. belangen to attain to, to concern); pref. be- + longen to desire. See Long, v. i. ] [ Usually construed with to. ] 1. To be the property of; as, Jamaica belongs to Great Britain. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To be a part of, or connected with; to be appendant or related; to owe allegiance or service. [ 1913 Webster ]

A desert place belonging to . . . Bethsaids. Luke ix. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]

The mighty men which belonged to David. 1 Kings i. 8. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To be the concern or proper business or function of; to appertain to. “Do not interpretations belong to God ?” Gen. xl. 8. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To be suitable for; to be due to. [ 1913 Webster ]

Strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age. Heb. v. 14. [ 1913 Webster ]

No blame belongs to thee. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To be native to, or an inhabitant of; esp. to have a legal residence, settlement, or inhabitancy, whether by birth or operation of law, so as to be entitled to maintenance by the parish or town. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bastards also are settled in the parishes to which the mothers belong. Blackstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To be deserved by. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

More evils belong us than happen to us. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Commonly in the pl. ] 1. That which belongs to one; that which pertains to one; hence, goods or effects. “Thyself and thy belongings.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is connected with a principal or greater thing; an appendage; an appurtenance. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Family; relations; household. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Few persons of her ladyship's belongings stopped, before they did her bidding, to ask her reasons. Thackeray. [ 1913 Webster ]