construe
To understand as meaning, to take to meanTo understand (something) as meaning, to take to mean.
» This could be construed as an act of treason.
Meaning
7 senses(transitive)To understand (something) as meaning, to take to mean.
(transitive)To interpret (something) to another or publicly, explain the meaning of (something, usually language).
auslegen, deuten, interpretieren
толкова́тьtolkovátʹ, истолковыватьistolkovyvatʹ
(transitive)To analyze the grammatical structure of a clause or sentence; to parse.
analysieren, zergliedern, zerlegen
разбира́тьrazbirátʹ
(ergative)To admit of grammatical analysis.
(transitive)To translate.
To infer.
(obsolete)To explain.
- make sense of; assign a meaning to
Examples
14 sentencesThis could be construed as an act of treason.
This could be construed as an act of terrorism.
ruЭто можно счесть террористическим актом.
deMan könnte das als terroristische Tat auslegen.
They usefully managed to construe an efficient work ethic.
His words could hardly be construed as an apology.
His inflammatory speech could be construed as an act of war.
Translations
4 languagesBy meaning 2
By meaning 2
Origin
From Middle English construen, from Late Latin construo, construere (“to relate grammaticaFrom Middle English construen, from Late Latin construo, construere (“to relate grammatically”), from Latin construo (“pile together”); doublet of construct.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
construes, construing, construed, construedSynonyms
2 synonymsWord family
10 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle