Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CON-FINE', v.t. [Sp. confinar; Fr. confiner. See Supra.]

1. To bound or limit; to restrain within limits; hence, to imprison; to shut up; to restrain from escape by force or insurmountable obstacles, in a general sense; as, to confine horses or cattle to an inclosure; to confine water in a pond, to dam; to confine a garrison in a town; to confine a criminal in prison.
2. To immure; to keep close, by a voluntary act; to be much at home or in retirement; as, a man confines himself to his studies, or to his house.
3. To limit or restrain voluntarily, in some act or practice; as, a man may confine himself to the use of animal food.
4. To tie or bind; to make fast or close; as, to confine air in a bladder, or corn in a bag or sack.
5. To restrain by a moral force; as, to confine men by laws. The constitution of the United States confines the states to the exercise of powers of a local nature.