construe

//kənˈstruː//
C1Frequency Level 11Formal
Visual representation of construe

Verb

construeInfinitive
construePresent tense
construedPast tense
construedPast participle
construingPresent participle
construesThird-person singular
1

To interpret or understand the meaning of something, especially words or actions, in a particular way.

Her silence was construed as agreement.

2

To analyze the grammatical structure of a sentence or phrase, especially in classical languages.

The students learned to construe Latin sentences in their classical language class.

3

To translate word by word, especially from a classical language.

The students learned to construe Latin texts word by word.