Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Purview \Pur"view\, n. [OF. purveu, pourveu, F. pourvu,
   provided, p. p. of OF. porveoir, F. pourvoir. See {Purvey},
   {View}, and cf. {Proviso}.]
   1.
      (a) (Law) The body of a statute, or that part which begins
          with `` Be it enacted, '' as distinguished from the
          preamble. --Cowell.
      (b) Hence: The limit or scope of a statute; the whole
          extent of its intention or provisions. --Marshall.

                Profanations within the purview of several
                statutes.                         --Bacon.

   2. Limit or sphere of authority; scope; extent.

            In determining the extent of information required in
            the exercise of a particular authority, recourse
            must be had to the objects within the purview of
            that authority.                       --Madison.

Source : WordNet®

purview
     n : the range of interest or activity that can be anticipated;
         "It is beyond the horizon of present knowledge" [syn: {horizon},
          {view}]