Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Construe
Con-strue
(?; Archaic ?)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Construed
(#)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Construing
(#)
.] 1.
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.
2.
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.
Webster 1828 Edition
Construe
CONSTRUE
,Verb.
T.
1.
To arrange words in their natural order; to reduce from a transposed to a natural order, so as to discover the sense of a sentence; hence, to interpret; and when applied to a foreign language, to translate; to render into English; as, to construe Greek, Latin or French.2.
To interpret; to explain; to show or to understand the meaning.I pray that I may not be so understood or construed.
Thus we are put to construe and paraphrase our own words.