construing Hear it!

Variant of construe

construe Definition

con·strue (kən stro̵̅o̅′)

transitive verb construed -·strued′, construing -·stru′·ing

  1. to analyze (a sentence, clause, etc.) so as to show its syntactic construction and its meaning
  2. loosely to translate (a passage) orally
  3. to explain or deduce the meaning of; interpret her silence was construed as agreement
  4. to infer or deduce
  5. 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

  1. to analyze sentence structure, esp. in translating
  2. to be able to be construed, as a sentence
construing Usage Examples

Object

  • clause: There are a number of background matters which Mr McLaren invited me to take into account in construing the waiver clause.