construe

¹con·strue

verb \kən-ˈstrü\

con·struedcon·stru·ing

Definition of CONSTRUE

transitive verb

1

: to analyze the arrangement and connection of words in (a sentence or sentence part)

2

: to understand or explain the sense or intention of usually in a particular way or with respect to a given set of circumstances <construed my actions as hostile>

intransitive verb

: to construe a sentence or sentence part especially in connection with translating

— con·stru·able \-ˈstrü-ə-bəl\ adjective

Examples of CONSTRUE

1. The way the court construes various words has changed over time.
2. <the role of the justices of the Supreme Court in construing the constitution>

Origin of CONSTRUE

Middle English, from Late Latin construere, from Latin, to construct

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to CONSTRUE

Synonyms: clarify, clear (up), explain, demonstrate, demystify, elucidate, explicate, expound, get across, illuminate, illustrate, interpret, simplify, spell out, unriddle

Antonyms: obscure

Related Words: decipher, decode; analyze, break down; disentangle, undo, unravel, unscramble, untangle; resolve, solve; define, specify; annotate, commentate, gloss

Near Antonyms: befog, cloud; confound, confuse, obfuscate

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Rhymes with CONSTRUE

accrue, achoo, adieu, ado, Agnew, aircrew, airscrew, anew, askew, babu, Baku, bamboo, battu, battue, bayou, bedew, beshrew, bestrew, bijou, boo-boo, boubou, brand-new, breakthrough, burgoo, cachou, can-do, canoe, caoutchouc, Carew, Cebu, Chonju, Corfu, corkscrew, coypu, CQ, cuckoo, curfew, debut, Depew, doo-doo, ecu, endue, ensue, eschew, floor-through, fondue, fordo, Gansu, Gentoo, Gifu, goo-goo, GQ, ground crew, gumshoe, guru, hairdo, hereto, Hindu, home brew, Honshu, horseshoe, how-to, HQ, Hutu, igloo, imbrue, imbue, IQ, jackscrew, K2, Kansu, karoo, Karoo, kazoo, Khufu, kung fu, Kwangju, leadscrew, lean-to, long view, make-do, Matthew, me-too, mildew, milieu, miscue, misdo, muumuu, non-U, old-shoe, one-two, on view, outdo, perdu, Peru, poilu, prau, preview, pursue, purview, ragout, redo, renew, Renfrew, review, revue, rough-hew, run-through, sandshoe, Sardou, see-through, set-to, setscrew, shampoo, sinew, skiddoo, snafu, snowshoe, soft-shoe, span-new, subdue, surtout, taboo, Taegu, tattoo, thank-you, thereto, thumbscrew, to-do, too-too, tree shrew, undo, undue, unglue, unscrew, untrue, vatu, vendue, venue, virtu, voodoo, wahoo, walk-through, wherethrough, whereto, who's who, worldview, yahoo, yoo-hoo