Main Entry: ¹con·fine

Pronunciation: \ˈkän-ˌfīn also kən-ˈ\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French or Latin; Anglo-French confines, plural, from Latin confine border, from neuter of confinis adjacent, from com- + finis end

Date: 15th century

1 plural a : something (as borders or walls) that encloses <outside the confines of the office or hospital — W. A. Nolen>; also : something that restrains <escape from the confines of soot and clutter — E. S. Muskie> b : scope 3 <work within the confines of a small group — Frank Newman>
2 a archaic : restriction b obsolete : prison