Construe
/kənˈstruː/noun
To interpret or explain the meaning of something, especially a text or statement.
Did you know?Construe entered English through Latin and Old French as a technical word for arranging words in order, which is why old grammar traditions treated interpretation almost like a kind of linguistic ritual.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*streu-
“to spread out, strew”
Latin
Latin
struere
“to pile up, arrange, build”
Late Latin
Latin
construere
“to build together, arrange, prepare”
Old French
Old French
construer
“to arrange words; interpret”
Middle English
English
construe
“to interpret or explain the order and meaning of words”
Modern English
English
construe
“to interpret or explain the meaning of something”
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