construe

American  

[kuhn-stroo, kon-stroo] / kənˈstru, ˈkɒn stru /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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noun

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

Other Word Forms

• construability noun
• construable adjective
• construer noun

Etymology

Origin of construe

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

Example Sentences

Even the slightest touch from a resident was construed as an “attack” that was then used to justify street brawls under the ludicrous pretense of self-defense.

From Salon

"Riyadh knew India would construe the Saudi-Pakistan pact as a direct threat to its security, yet it went ahead," Brahma Chellaney, an Indian strategist, posted on X.

From BBC

"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

Related Words

• define
• infer
• interpret
• parse
• translate