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construe
construe definition
con·strue (kən stro̵̅o̅′)
transitive verb construed -·strued′, construing -·stru′·ing
- to analyze (a sentence, clause, etc.) so as to show its syntactic construction and its meaning
- loosely to translate (a passage) orally
- to explain or deduce the meaning of; interpret her silence was construed as agreement
- to infer or deduce
- Gram. to combine in syntax the verb “let,” unlike “permit,” is construed with an infinitive omitting the “to”
Etymology: ME construen < L construere: see construct
intransitive verb
- to analyze sentence structure, esp. in translating
- to be able to be construed, as a sentence
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