construe

construe
construct, construe
are related words (from Latin struere ‘to build’) which are both used to denote grammatical function. A word is construed or constructed with (e.g.) on when on is its regular complement, e.g. insist on and rely on (the OED abbreviates this to ‘const. on’). You can also construe (but not construct) a sentence when you analyse its grammar in order to determine its meaning; this sense also has a more general application equivalent to ‘interpret’:

• Henceforth, religion was construed as a private matter —First Things Magazine, 2004.


Modern English usage. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • construe — I (comprehend) verb accipere, analyze, apprehend, ascertain the meaning of, assimilate, be aware of, be given to understand, cognize, conceive of, conclude, conclude from evidence, consignify, decipher, decode, deduce, deduce by interpretation,… …   Law dictionary

  • Construe — Con*strue (?; Archaic ?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Construed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Construing}.] [L. construere: cf. F. construire. See {Construct}.] 1. To apply the rules of syntax to (a sentence or clause) so as to exhibit the structure, arrangement,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • construe — (v.) late 14c., from L.L. construere to relate grammatically, in classical Latin to build up, pile together (see CONSTRUCTION (Cf. construction)); also see CONSTRUCT (Cf. construct), which is a later acquisition of the same word. Related:… …   Etymology dictionary

  • construe — vb explicate, elucidate, interpret, expound, *explain Analogous words: *analyze, resolve, break down, dissect: *understand, comprehend, appreciate …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • construe — [v] deduce; explain analyze, decipher, define, explicate, expound, figure it to be*, infer, interpret, one’s best guess*, parse, read, render, spell out, take, translate, understand; concepts 37,57 …   New thesaurus

  • construe — ► VERB (construes, construed, construing) (often be construed) ▪ interpret in a particular way. DERIVATIVES construable adjective construal noun. ORIGIN Latin construere heap together, build …   English terms dictionary

  • construe — [kən stro͞o′] vt. construed, construing [ME construen < L construere: see CONSTRUCT] 1. to analyze (a sentence, clause, etc.) so as to show its syntactic construction and its meaning 2. loosely to translate (a passage) orally 3. to explain or… …   English World dictionary

  • construe — UK [kənˈstruː] / US [kənˈstru] verb [transitive] Word forms construe : present tense I/you/we/they construe he/she/it construes present participle construing past tense construed past participle construed formal to understand the meaning of… …   English dictionary

  • construe — 1. noun /kənˈstruː/ a) A translation. b) An interpretation. 2. verb /kənˈstruː/ a) To interpret or explain the meaning …   Wiktionary

  • construe — v. 1) (d; tr.) to construe as (he construed the statement as a threat) 2) (M) I construed his speech to be a warning * * * [kən struː] (M) I construed his speech to be a warning (d;tr.) to construe as (he construed the statement as a threat) …   Combinatory dictionary

  • construe — con|strue [ kən stru ] verb transitive FORMAL to understand the meaning of something in a particular way: INTERPRET: construe something as something: Please do not construe this as any criticism of yourself …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”