Interpret definition
Interpreted his smile to be an agreement; interpreted the open door as an invitation.
The newspapers interpreted the ambassador's speech as an attempt at making peace.
Interpreted the ambassador's remarks for the assembly.
The actor interpreted the character with great subtlety.
An example of interpret is a person using sign language to translate what someone is saying to a deaf person.
To interpret a poem.
To interpret someone's silence as contempt.
Origin of interpret
- Middle English interpreten from Old French interpreter from Latin interpretārī from interpres interpret- negotiator, explainer per-5 in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- From Middle English interpreten, from Old French enterpreter, (French interpréter), from Latin interpretor (“to explain, expound, interpret”), past participle interpretatus, from interpres (“an agent, broker, explainer, interpreter, negotiator”), from inter (“between”) + -pres, probably the root of pretium (“price”); -pres is probably connected with Ancient Greek φράζειν (phrazein, “to point out, show, explain, declare, speak”), from which φραδή (phrade, “understanding”), φράσις (phrasis, “speech”); see phrase.
From Wiktionary