con·fine
(kən-fīń)
[French confiner, from Old French, from confins, boundaries, ultimately from Latin cōnfīne, from neuter of cōnfīnis, adjoining, com-, com-, + fīnis, border.]
verb: -fined, -fin·ing, -fines.
transitive verb
- To keep within bounds; restrict: Please confine your remarks to the issues at hand. See synonyms at limit
- To shut or keep in, especially to imprison.
- To restrict in movement: The sick child was confined to bed.
intransitive verb
Archaic
- To border.
noun
- The limits of a space or area; the borders: within the confines of one county.
- Restraining elements: wanted to escape the confines of corporate politics.
- Purview; scope: a theory that is well within the confines of science.
- Archaic A restriction.
- Obsolete A prison.
derivatives
- con·fińa·ble
- adjective
- con·fińer
- noun