Relates (to)

PERTAINS

Think of a formal word meaning "is relevant to" or "concerns."

"Relates (to)" is a straightforward definition clue pointing to a word that means "concerns" or "applies to." The answer is "PERTAINS," which fits perfectly as it directly means to be relevant or connected to something. There’s no wordplay here—just a clean, direct match between the clue’s meaning and the answer. Think of it like saying, "This rule pertains to everyone," where "pertains" and "relates to" are essentially interchangeable.