Wordwyrt

confine

/kənˈfaɪn/kuhn-FYN
/kənˈfaɪn/kuhn-FYN

Meaningto share a boundary; to hem in

Common meaning: to keep within limits

‘with, together’ + ‘a boundary, end, limit’ → confine

Sources & notes

Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.

Pronunciation

  • UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
  • No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
  • US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
  • No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.

Origin: Built on Latin fīnis ‘a boundary, end, limit’.

Did you know: our wording, based on Lewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), entry fīnis, p. 751 · dictionary scan

Roots

  • fīnis Latin “a boundary, end, limit”

Related words

definedefinitefinalfinancefinefinishfiniteinfinite

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