I. kən-ˈstrü verb
( 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
II. ˈkän-ˌstrü noun
Date: 1844
: an act or the result of construing especially by piecemeal translation