The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

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.
          [1913 Webster]

                Profanations within the purview of several
                statutes.                         --Bacon.
          [1913 Webster]

   2. Limit or sphere of authority; scope; extent.
      [1913 Webster]

            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.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

purview
    n 1: the range of interest or activity that can be anticipated;
         "It is beyond the horizon of present knowledge" [syn:
         horizon, view, purview]