Main Entry: ¹con·strue

Pronunciation: \kən-ˈstrü\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): con·strued; con·stru·ing

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

Date: 14th century

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