Definitions for: Construe


[v] make sense of; assign a meaning to; "What message do you see in this letter?"; "How do you interpret his behavior?"



Webster (1913) Definition: Con*strue (?; Archaic ?), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
Construed; p. pr. & vb. n. Construing.] [L. construere:
cf. F. construire. See Construct.]
1. To apply the rules of syntax to (a sentence or clause) so
as to exhibit the structure, arrangement, or connection
of, or to discover the sense; to explain the construction
of; to interpret; to translate.

2. To put a construction upon; to explain the sense or
intention of; to interpret; to understand.

Thus we are put to construe and paraphrase our own
words to free ourselves either from the ignorance or
malice of our enemies. --Bp.
Stilingfleet.

And to be dull was construed to be good. --Pope.

Synonyms: interpret, see

See Also: allegorise, allegorize, be amiss, collocate with, confound, confuse, construe with, cooccur with, draw out, educe, elicit, evoke, extract, go with, literalise, literalize, misapprehend, misconceive, misconstrue, misinterpret, mistake, misunderstand, mythicise, mythicize, read, read between the lines, reinterpret, scan, spiritualise, spiritualize, take, understand

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