construe
/kən'stru:/
Definition
- Verb:
- To interpret or understand the meaning of something, especially language or actions: To analyze and assign a specific meaning to words, statements, or behavior.
- To analyze the grammatical structure of a sentence or phrase: To explain the syntactic arrangement of words in a sentence.
- To translate literally, word for word.
Examples of Usage
- Verb (Interpret meaning):
- Verb (Analyze grammar):
- Verb (Translate literally):
Advanced Usage
- "To construe something as something": To interpret something in a particular way.
- In legal and formal contexts: Often used to describe the official interpretation of laws, documents, or statements.
- With prepositions: Certain words are "construed with" specific prepositions, describing their grammatical usage.
Variants and Related Words
- Construal (n): The act of construing or the interpretation resulting from it.
- Misconstrue (v): To interpret wrongly.
Synonyms
- Interpret: To explain the meaning of.
- Understand: To perceive the intended meaning.
- Read: To interpret a meaning from something written or observed.
- Parse: To analyze a sentence into its parts (grammar-specific).
Related Phrasal Verbs
(Note: "Construe" is not typically used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meaning is carried by the verb itself, often followed by "as" or used with a direct object.)
Related Idioms
- "To construe broadly/narrowly": To interpret in a wide or restrictive manner.
Verb
-
make sense of; assign a meaning to
-
What message do you see in this letter?
-
How do you interpret his behavior?
-
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