construe
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.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
See Examples of CONSTRUE
- The way the court construes various words has changed over time.
- <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
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
2con·strue
noun \ˈkän-ˌstrü\Definition of CONSTRUE
: an act or the result of construing especially by piecemeal translation
First Known Use of CONSTRUE
1844
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All Words Near: construe
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