Confine directions to direction finder (9)
I believe the answer is:
encompass
'confine' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with fundamental existence as well as being verbs in their base form.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'directions to direction finder' is the wordplay.
'directions' becomes 'en' (east and north).
'to direction finder' becomes 'compass' (a compass helps you find a direction).
'en'+'compass'='ENCOMPASS'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for encompass that I've seen before include "Comprehensively include" , "Contain or encircle" , "Embrace" , "Contrive" , "ring" .)