I. kənˈfīn verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle French confiner to lie contiguous, restrain within limits, from confin, n., confine
intransitive verb
archaic : to have a common boundary : lie contiguous
transitive verb
: to hold within bounds : restrain from exceeding boundaries:
a. : to keep in narrow quarters : imprison
b. : to prevent free outward passage or motion of : secure , enclose , fasten
the loose cloud of hair was confined in two plaits — W.H.Hudson
dikes confined the flood waters
c. : to keep from leaving accustomed quarters (as one's room or bed) under pressure of infirmity, childbirth, detention, business reasons
now that he was able to employ an assistant, he was not closely confined to the store — Ellen Glasgow
d. : to narrow down (range of possible interest, participation, expression) and exclude from embracing various matters possible : make applicable only to a limited group
for what reason was the Greek tragic poet confined to so limited a range of subjects — Matthew Arnold
a rare luxury confined to princes and ministers — T.B.Macaulay
e. : to keep to a certain place or to a limited area : prevent unlimited incidence of
in confining the disease to Memphis — W.F.Willcox
the buffalo was not confined to the open grassland — C.D.Forde
Synonyms: see limit
II. ˈkänˌfīn, in sense 5a usually kənˈf- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French confin, from Latin confine, from neuter of confinis having the same boundary, adjacent, from com- + finis end, border — more at final
1. usually plural : bounds , borders ; especially : the mutual boundary with adjacent regions
betwixt the confines of night and day — John Dryden
2. usually plural : regions along or near a border : outlying parts
the Newtonian scheme does not banish God from the universe, but it pushes him to the confines — Times Literary Supplement
3. usually plural : constricting limits (as of an area of activity or operation) : scope
Darwin had not moved entirely within the confines of the thought of his generation — S.F.Mason
lifts the story beyond a conventional confine — Times Literary Supplement
4. usually plural : enclosed or otherwise limited space or area : territory
the future of the city lies in the eastern corner of its confines — Springfield (Massachusetts) Daily News
5.
a. archaic : restriction , confinement
the dungeon's grim confine — Robert Burns
b. obsolete : prison , dungeon
many confines, wards, and dungeons — Shakespeare
III. adjective
Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French confin, from Latin confinis adjacent
obsolete : neighboring