The Collaborative International Dictionary
Construe \Con*strue\ (?; Archaic ?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Construed; p. pr. & vb. n. Construing.] [L. construere: cf. F. construire. See Construct.]
To apply the rules of syntax to (a sentence or clause) so as to exhibit the structure, arrangement, or connection of, or to discover the sense; to explain the construction of; to interpret; to translate.
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To put a construction upon; to explain the sense or intention of; to interpret; to understand.
Thus we are put to construe and paraphrase our own words to free ourselves either from the ignorance or malice of our enemies.
--Bp. Stilingfleet.And to be dull was construed to be good.
--Pope.
Wiktionary
vb. (present participle of construe English)
Usage examples of "construing".
Tumer, who was the first victim, broke the news to his form that the headmaster would take them for Latin that day, and on the pretence that they might like to ask him a question or two so that they should not make perfect fools of themselves, spent the last quarter of an hour of the history lesson in construing for them the passage of Livy which had been set for the day.
His nails were bitten to the quick, for while some trembling boy was construing he would sit at his desk shaking with the fury that consumed him, and gnaw his fingers.
Elizabeth, construing all this into a wish of hearing her speak of her sister, was pleased, and on this account, as well as some others, found herself, when their visitors left them, capable of considering the last half-hour with some satisfaction, though while it was passing, the enjoyment of it had been little.
The baronet sat construing their account of the flight of the lads when they were hailed, and resolved it into an act of rebellion on the part of his son.
During the afternoon before, he had read prayers for the soul of Schwartz, in whose departure he may or may not have had a part I am inclined to think not, Jones construing his mission as being one to remove the wicked and the oppressor, and Schwartz hardly coming under either classification.