verb

enfermer

lock up · lock · lock oneself away

Mettre quelqu’un ou quelque chose dans un endroit fermé pour qu’il ne puisse pas sortir.

The French verb "enfermer" means "to lock up," "to confine," or "to imprison." It involves putting someone or something inside a closed space where they cannot freely leave.

Usage:

Literally, it can mean locking a door or putting an object inside a container, e.g., "Enfermer les clés dans la boîte" (to lock the keys in the box).
Figuratively, it can mean to trap or restrict freedom, e.g., "Enfermer un prisonnier" (to imprison a prisoner).

Synonyms and subtle differences:

confiner: Means to confine or limit the space someone or something can occupy, often more neutral or clinical, e.g., confining a disease or someone within an area.
emprisonner: Specifically means "to imprison" or incarcerate someone. More legal or official.
clôturer: Means to enclose within a fence or boundary; more about physical enclosures rather than locking someone inside.
coffrer (slang): Means to lock up (usually a person), often used by police ("coffrer un suspect").

So, "enfermer" has a broad sense of physically or metaphorically locking or confining someone or something inside a place, and it can carry stronger or emotional undertones depending on context.