construe
verbEtymology From Middle English construen, from Late Latin construo, construere (“to relate grammatically”), from Latin construo (“pile together”); doublet of construct.
7 senses
1
To understand (something) as meaning, to take to mean.
- Bru[tus]. […] But let not therefore my good Friends be greeu'd (Among which number Cassius be you one) Nor conſtrue any further my neglect, Then that poore Brutus with himſelfe at warre, Forgets the ſhews of Loue to other men.1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 110, column 1:
- The world must construe according to its wits; this court must construe according to the law.1954, Robert Bolt, A Man for All Seasons:
2
To interpret (something) to another or publicly, explain the meaning of (something, usually language).
- This is a new fashionable proverb, which I must construe to you.1750, “To [Sir Horace Mann], Feb. 25. — Ministerial quarrels […] ”, in The Letter of Horace Walpole, Earl of Oxford, volume II, London: Richard Betley, New Burlington Street, published 1840, page 319:
3
Grammar, Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences To analyze the grammatical structure of a clause or sentence; to parse.
- Thus, in a sentence such as: (113) John considers [_S Fred to be too sure of himself] the italicised Reflexive himself can only be construed with Fred, not with John: this follows from our assumption that non-subject Reflexives must have an antecedent within their own S. Notice, however, that in a sentence such as: (114) John seems to me [_S — to have perjured himself] himself must be construed with John.1988, Andrew Radford, chapter 8, in Transformational grammar: a first course, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, page 436:
4
Grammar, Human sciences, Linguistics, Sciences Ergative To admit of grammatical analysis.
5
To translate.
6
To infer.
7
Obsolete To explain.
- Bru[tus]. […] Portia go in a while, And by and by thy boſome ſhall partake The ſecrets of my Heart. All my engagements, I will construe to thee, All the Charractery of my ſad browes.1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 116, column 2:
- Derived terms
- construable, construal, construance, construction, construer, deconstrue, misconstrue, reconstrue, unconstrued
- Related terms
- instrument