Confine

/kənˈfaɪn/ · verb

Meaning

(obsolete) To have a common boundary with; to border on..

Definitions by Sense

1. (obsolete) To have a common boundary with; to border on.
2. (transitive) To restrict (someone or something) to a particular scope or area; to keep in or within certain bounds.
3. (chiefly in the plural) A boundary or limit.
4. (poetic) Confinement, imprisonment.

Example Sentences

Where your gloomy bounds / Confine with heaven

Betwixt heaven and earth and skies there stands a place / Confining on all three.

‘Why, Sir, to be sure, such parts of Sclavonia as confine with Germany, will borrow German words; and such parts as confine with Tartary will borrow Tartar words.’

1680, John Dryden, Ovid’s Epistles translated by several hands, London: Jacob Tonson, Preface, He is to confine himself to the compass of numbers and the slavery of rhyme.

Now let not nature's hand / Keep the wild flood confined! let order die!

Here perhaps one of you might interrupt me and say, 'But what is it that you do, Socrates? How is it that you have been misrepresented like this? Surely all this talk and gossip about you would never have arisen if you had confined yourself to ordinary activities, but only if your behaviour was abnormal. Give us the explanation, if you do not want us to draw our own conclusions.'

She says for you to bring her a slice of cake, A bottle of the best wine, And not to forget the fair young lady That did release you from close confine.

Synonyms for confine

Antonyms for confine

Related Words

Word Forms

• confines
• confining
• confined

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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