construe

[kuhn-stroo, kon-stroo]

verb (used with object)

construed, construing 

1. to give the meaning or intention of; explain; interpret.

2. to deduce by inference or interpretation; infer.

   He construed her intentions from her gestures.

3. to translate, especially orally.

4. to analyze the syntax of; to rehearse the applicable grammatical rules of.

   to construe a sentence.

5. to arrange or combine (words, phrases, etc.) syntactically.

verb (used without object)

construed, construing 

1. to admit of grammatical analysis or interpretation.

noun

1. the act of construing.

2. something that is construed.

construe

/ kənˈstruː /

verb

1. to interpret the meaning of (something)

   you can construe that in different ways

2. (may take a clause as object) to discover by inference; deduce

3. to analyse the grammatical structure of; parse (esp a Latin or Greek text as a preliminary to translation)

4. to combine (words) syntactically

5. old-fashioned,  (also intr) to translate literally, esp aloud as an academic exercise

noun

1. old-fashioned,  something that is construed, such as a piece of translation

Other Word Forms

• construer noun
• construability noun
• construable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of construe¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English construen, from Latin construere “to put together, build,” equivalent to con- con- + struere “to pile up, arrange,” perhaps akin to sternere “to spread, scatter”; strew, stratum

Word History and Origins

Origin of construe¹

C14: from Latin construere to pile up; see _construct

Example Sentences

"Nothing in this MOU is, or shall be interpreted or construed as an offer, promise or acceptance of any form of bribery, undue influence or corrupt practice," the document says.

From BBC

“If you read it, I’m not sure how it could be construed as a threat. … I’d like to see journalists held at a higher standard.”

From Los Angeles Times

Any posts that could be construed as anti-American would result in automatic rejection.

From Salon

The statute also states that nothing in that section “may be construed to require a Member of Congress to provide prior notice of the intent to enter a facility” for the purpose of conducting oversight.

From Los Angeles Times

That could be construed as willful escapism or youthful irresponsibility; it strikes me as more like storytelling, an area where the Irish are known to excel.

From Salon

Related Words

• define 
• infer 
• interpret 
• parse 
• translate