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to construe

to construe

45 8.1
To understand words, actions, or events in a particular way
  • verb
  • /kənˈstruː/
  • Formal
translation icon : interpretar
  • As an engine of history, migration could be construed as a sign of the times.
  • construed to mean
  • narrowly construed
  • construed as a right

Now notice what universal is being construed as here.

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Examples

  • It cannot be reasonably construed as anything else.

  • And can you really construe leadership as service?

  • You can construe this in several different ways.

  • I think the State has had plenty of time to construe this statute.

  • They're trying to construe the meaning of the pause.

  • However, as Bandura explained, individuals have the ability to control how they construe and react to the environment.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Indeed, Rawls' theory can be construed to protect the interests of animals.

    Academic text (1999)
  • I sympathize with your position, I really do, but that could be construed as threatening behavior on your part.

  • Courts should therefore aspire to give effect to this preference when construing these clauses.

    Academic text (2017)
  • In this context, you can construe his silence as agreement with the proposal.

Synonyms

to see
vsto construe
1.0

To understand what something means

assigns a meaning or explanation rather than simply noticing or realizing
to understand
vsto construe
1.0

To know the meaning of something

assigns meaning or explains intention beyond merely knowing
to take
vsto construe
5.6

Understand something in a particular way

assigns meaning more formally or carefully rather than personally
to interpret
vsto construe
386 3.3

To explain what something means

assigns a meaning to words or actions rather than only clarifying them
to comprehend
vsto construe
137 2.7

To understand the meaning of something

assigns a specific meaning or explanation instead of simple grasping
to conceive
vsto construe
84 4.7

To imagine something or think about it in a certain way

assigns a meaning rather than merely forming an opinion or belief
to apprehend
vsto construe
  • Formal
9 4.3

To understand the meaning of something

assigns a meaning to explain rather than just grasping it mentally

How Accurate

to understand
1.0
to interpret
386 3.3
to construe
  • Formal
45 8.1

Surface Forms

construe infinitive
construed past
construed past participle
construing present participle
construes third person singular

Etymology

Construe comes from Latin parts con- 'together' and struere 'to build', and you can see the same root in construct and structure. So, to construe something is to 'build together' its meaning from words or actions.