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to construe

to construe

45 8.1
To understand words, actions, or events in a particular way
  • verb
  • /kənˈstruː/
  • Formal
: 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.