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construe

noun
/kənˈstɹuː/

Etymology

From Middle English construen, from Late Latin construo, construere (“to relate grammatically”), from Latin construo (“pile together”); doublet of construct.

  1. derived from construo
  2. derived from construo
  3. inherited from construen

Definitions

  1. A translation.

  2. An interpretation.

  3. 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.
    • The world must construe according to its wits; this court must construe according to the law.
  4. ›+ 6 more definitions

    1. To interpret (something) to another or publicly, explain the meaning of (something,…

      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.

    2. To analyze the grammatical structure of a clause or sentence

      To analyze the grammatical structure of a clause or sentence; to parse.

    3. To admit of grammatical analysis.

    4. To translate.

    5. To infer.

    6. 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.

The neighborhood

Derived

construable, construal, construance, construction, construer, deconstrue, misconstrue, reconstrue, unconstrued

Vish — recursive loop

A definitional loop anchored at construe. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.

01construe02translation03translating04translate05recollection06mind07capability08control09construed

A definitional loop anchored at construe. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.

9 hops · closes at construe

curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA