Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

construe

 - 3 dictionary results

con⋅strue

  [v. kuhn-stroo or, especially Brit., kon-stroo; n. kon-stroo] verb, -strued, -stru⋅ing, noun
Use construe in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
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, esp. 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)
6. to admit of grammatical analysis or interpretation.
–noun
7. the act of construing.
8. something that is construed.
Origin:
1325–75; ME construen < L construere to put together, build, equiv. to con- con- + struere to pile up, arrange, perh. akin to sternere to spread, strew; see stratum

Related forms:
con⋅stru⋅er, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To construe
con·strue   (kən-strōō')   
v.   con·strued, con·stru·ing, con·strues

v.   tr.

  1. To adduce or explain the meaning of; interpret: construed my smile as assent. See Synonyms at explain.

  2. Grammar

    1. To analyze the structure of (a clause or sentence).

    2. To use syntactically: The noun fish can be construed as singular or plural.

  3. To translate, especially aloud.

v.   intr.

  1. To analyze grammatical structure.

  2. To be subject to grammatical analysis.

n.   (kŏn'strōō')
An interpretation or translation.

[Middle English construen, from Late Latin cōnstruere, from Latin, to build; see construct.]
con·stru'al n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

construe 
1362, from L.L. construere "to relate grammatically," in classical L. "to pile together;" see construct, which is a later acquisition of the same word.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see construe on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way