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con·fines

(kŏnfīnz′)

pl.n.

1. The limits of a space or area; the borders: within the confines of one county.

2. Restraining elements: wanted to escape the confines of corporate politics.

3. Purview; scope: a theory that is well within the confines of science.

[Old French confins, boundaries, from Latin cōnfīnia, pl. of cōnfīnium, boundary, from cōnfīnis, adjoining : com-, com- + fīnis, border.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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