▪ I. construe, v.
(ˈkɒnstruː, kənˈstruː)
Forms: α. 4–5 construen, -struwe, 5 -stru, -strew, -struyn, 5–6 -strewe, 4– construe; β. 5–6 constre, 6–9 conster, (6 constyrre, 8 cunster).
[ME. constru-en, ad. L. construĕre to pile together, build up, construct, also to connect grammatically, construct sentences, whence in med.L. as in sense 3. The corresponding F. construire is a late word, but occurs in Palsgr. 1530 in the grammatical use. If our word had been derived through Fr. it would have had the forms construy, constroy: cf. destroy. At an early date the stress was put on the first syllable, and the final reduced to -stre, -ster: conster continued to be the pronunciation down to the 19th c., even after it had disappeared as a written form. Walker, 1791, called this ‘a scandal to seminaries of learning’.]
† 1. trans. To form by putting together materials, to construct. Obs.
| [1399 Langl. Rich. Redeles iii. 327 They constrewed quarellis to quenche þe peple, And pletid with pollaxis and poyntis of swerdis.] 1490 Caxton Eneydos xv. (1890) 59 He had construed, edyfyed, and made an hondred temples wythin his royalme. 1605 Timme Quersit. i. xv. 71 The braine..is defended and construed by Mercurie, the third radical beginning. |
2. Gram. To combine (words, or parts of speech) grammatically. Now, to combine a verb, adjective, preposition, or other word with the case or relational words with which it is syntactically used.
| 1530 Palsgr. 495, I constrewe as a grammarian dothe a sentence, when he joyneth the partes of speche in order, je construis. 1612 Brinsley Pos. Parts (1669) 1 The construing or framing and setting together of the eight parts of speech. Mod. The verb hearken is construed with the prepositions to, unto. In German many prepositions are construed with the dative. |
3. Gram. To analyse or trace the grammatical construction of a sentence; to take its words in such an order as to show the meaning of the sentence; spec. to do this in the study of a foreign and especially a classical language, adding a word for word translation; hence, loosely, to translate orally a passage in an ancient or foreign author.
| 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. iv. 128 For nullum malum þe Mon mette with inpunitum, And bad nullum bonum be irremuneratum. Let þi Clerk, sire kyng, Construe þis in Englisch. c 1386 Chaucer Prioress' T. 76. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) II. 159 Children in scole beeþ compelled for..to construe hir lessouns and here þynges in Frensche [construere Gallice compelluntur]. 1481 Caxton Myrr. i. vii. 34 He coude make and construe euery worde, and pronounce it by example. 1580 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 362 She drew out hir petrarke, requesting him to conster hir a lesson. 1596 Shakes. Tam. Shr. iii. i. 30 Conster them. 1612 Brinsley Lud. Lit. 113 What they can so construe or reade out of the English into Latine. 1745 Chesterfield Lett. I. ciii. 285 If I did not construe Homer, and play at pitch. 1813 Moore Post-bag v. 293 Have you found any friend that can conster That Latin account, t'other day, of a Monster? 1840 Macaulay Ess., Ranke (1851) II. 142 He cannot construe a Greek author. |
b. absol.
| 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) II. 161 Now..in alle the grammar scoles of Engelond, children leveth Frensche, and construeth and lerneth on Englische. 1575 Laneham Lett. (1871) 61, I coold my rulez, coold conster & pars with the best of them. 1643 Sir T. Browne Relig. Med. i. §44 Since I have been able not onely as we do at schoole, to construe, but understand. 1852 Bristed 5 Years Eng. Univ. 18 The lecturer stands, and the lectured sit, even when construing, as the Freshmen are sometimes asked to do. 1861 Hughes Tom Brown Oxf. i. (1889) 6 If you were to hear the men construe, it would make your hair stand on end. |
c. intr. (for pass.) Of a series of words: To admit of grammatical analysis or interpretation.
| 1851 J. H. Newman Cath. in Eng. 59 Definite dogma, intelligible articles, formularies which would construe, a consistent ritual. Mod. This sentence will not construe; I can make nothing of it. His verses did not scan, and would barely construe. |
4. trans. To give the sense or meaning of; to expound, explain, interpret (language).
| 1399 Langl. Rich. Redeles Prol. 72 Poure on it preuyly..And constrewe ich clause with þe culorum. 1483 Cath. Angl. 75 To Constru, exponere, construere. 1545 Joye Exp. Dan. ix. X vj b, Geve me leave to conster you thys laste verse. 1581 Savile Tacitus' Hist. ii. xxxix. (1591) 76 Such as had rather construe [interpretari] then execute his Generals commaundementes. 1771 Smollett Humph. Cl. I. 3 June, We can cunster the crabbidst buck [= book]. 1796 J. Anstey Pleader's Guide (1803) 50 Though the Law in modern days Three barbarous Tongues no more displays, Like Pluto's triple headed monster, And Pleaders can their Pleadings construe. 1883 Browning Jocoseria, Sol. & Balkis, O wisest thou of the wise, world's marvel and well-nigh monster, One crabbed question more to construe or vulgo conster! |
b. To expound, interpret, or take in a specified way (often apart from the real sense).
| 1362 Langl. P. Pl. A. Prol. 58, I font þere Freres..Glosynge þe Gospel as hem good likeþ For Couetyse of Copes Construeþ hit ille. 1494 Fabyan Chron. vii. 308 Let wyse men that here this Cronycle constrewe it after theyr discressions. 1594 Hooker Eccl. Pol. iii. (1632) 135 That which the Word of God doth but deliuer historically, we conster without any warrant as if it were legally meant. 1663 Butler Hud. i. iii. 1214 If we conster What in th' Apocalyps we find, According to th' Apostles mind. 1795 Burke Corr. (1844) IV. 312, I am not a man for construing with too much rigour the expressions of men under a sense of ill-usage. 1848 Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. 234 The country was not then inclined to construe the letters of Papists candidly. |
c. with various complements and extensions.
| 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1673) 274 Some farryars..conster the word ‘taken’ to be ‘stricken by some planet or evill spirit’. 1641 J. Jackson True Evang. T. i. 4 [This Text] the Jews construe of Christ still to come, and of his temporall Monarchy. 1702 Addison Dial. Medals ii. 123 When the word is construed into its idea the double meaning vanishes. 1720 Lett. from Mist's Wkly. Jrnl. (1722) II. 55 Any thing that can be construed an obscure or scurrilous Insinuation. 1754 Richardson Grandison I. xxxvi. 252 When she speaks anything that some would construe to her disadvantage. 1856 Froude Hist. Eng. (1858) I. v. 416 He abstained..from using any expression which could be construed into a threat. 1876 E. Mellor Priesth. v. 221 Not one word which can be construed as having the remotest connection with sacrificial ideas. |
5. Law. To explain or interpret for legal purposes. (A technical application of 4.)
| 1581 Lambarde Eiren. iv. xix. (1588) 603 There can be no higher authoritie of exposition, then to construe one statute by an other. 1592 West 1st Pt. Symbol. §60 B. 1710 Steele Tatler No. 264 ¶9 Provided also, That this Rule be not construed to extend to the Fair Sex. 1767 Blackstone Comm. II. 147 Courts of law have..leant as much as possible against construing demises, where no certain term is mentioned, to be tenancies at will. 1818 Cruise Digest (ed. 2) II. 332 It is a usual manner of construing new acts, according to the old rules. 1885 Sir R. Baggallay in Law Times Rep. LII. 560/1 Authority is of very little use in construing an unskilfully drawn will. |
6. transf. To interpret, give a meaning to, put a construction on (actions, things, or persons).
| 1465 Paston Lett. No. 498 II. 175 Theyr disposicion woll be construed ferther than they wille it were. 1581 Savile Tacitus' Hist. iv. lxxxvi. (1591) 236 His brother whose vnlike and farre more curteous nature he construed [interpretabatur] contrarily. 1583 Stanyhurst æneis ii. (Arb.) 45 Of one od subtil stratagem, most treacherus handling Conster al. a 1656 Bp. Hall Breath. Devout Soul (1851) 165 O Lord God..how variously am I construed by men! 1709 Steele Tatler No. 52 ¶3 Our Minds are construed by the waving of that little Instrument [the fan]. 1719 D'Urfey Pills (1872) IV. 208 Few can tell his Pedigree, Or his subtile Nature conster. 1816 Scott Old Mort. xxviii, You construe me but justly. 1879 Froude Cæsar xv. 226 So Cicero had construed the situation..and he had construed it ill. |
b. with various complements and extensions.
| a 1400–50 Alexander 1901 And be þe hat, þat is holewe be-for þe heued bowed, I constru þat ilka kyng sall clyne to my-selfe. 1494 Fabyan Chron. v. xcviii. 71 The whiche was construed to be done by vertue of the holy Ghoost. 1535 Coverdale Bible Prol. ¶5 Though..I have fayled eny where..loue shall constyrre all to y⊇ best. a 1592 Greene Jas. IV (1861) 189 Thy virtues shall be construed to vice. 1607 Tourneur Rev. Trag. i. iii. 26 I conster my selfe sawcy. 1649 Milton Eikon. 168 All must be consterd Reason in the king and depraved temper in the Parlament. 1720 Ozell Vertot's Rom. Rep. II. xiii. 276 Cæsar's Robberies were construed for political Actions. 1831 Fonblanque Engl. under 7 Admin. (1837) II. 120 Prudence will be construed pusillanimity. 1833 H. Martineau Brooke Farm ii. 25 These gentlemen assure me that silence will be construed as an affront. 1855 Milman Lat. Chr. (1864) IV. vii. ii. 39 The popular conception would construe that consent..into an act of freewill. |
† c. in a bad sense: cf. misconstrue. Obs.
| c 1620 Fletcher & Mass. Trag. Barnavelt i. iii. in Bullen Old Pl. II. 221 To have your actions consturd, scornd and scoffd at By such malignant soules! |
7. To deduce (a meaning, etc.) by interpretation; to judge by inference, infer.
| c 1450 Crt. of Love lix, Construe the best, believe no tales newe, For many a lie is told, that semeth ful trewe. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 36 Sholde they whan they wake construe ony treuth to folowe of this mater. 1591 Horsey Trav. App. (Hakluyt Soc.) 298 Wee will conster the beste of all thinges. 1606 L. Bryskett Civ. Life 183 You may haply conster that meaning out of that place. a 1661 Fuller Worthies i. 203 By these my signs the wise will easily conster How little thou didst differ from a monster. 1884 Gustafson Found. Death i. 5 Even from this it cannot be fairly construed that gross drunkenness was common. |
b. absol. or intr. Const. † of.
| 1584 Peele Arraignm. Paris ii. i. 24 We must not conster hereof as you mean. 1594 Daniel Compl. Rosamond xxxii, A sinful monster, As by her words the chaster sort may conster. 1605 Bacon Adv. Learn. i. vi. §16 If we should judge or construe of the store of some excellent jeweller, by that..which is set out toward the street in his shop. |
† 8. To understand (a person, i.e. his meaning).
| 1622 Dekker Virg. Martyr ii. Wks. (1873) IV. 29, I now conster thee. |
† 9. To inform by way of explanation; to explain.
| 1601 Shakes. Twel. N. iii. i. 63 My Lady is within sir. I will conster to them whence you come. |
▪ II. construe, n.
(ˈkɒnstruː)
[f. the vb.]
An act of construing in the grammatical sense, esp. as an exercise in learning a classical language; a verbal translation.
| 1844 J. T. J. Hewlett Parsons & W. xv, These debates interfered sadly with construes, exercises, and repetitions. 1865 Etoniana viii. 138 An early construe with his tutor. 1885 W. F. Hobson in N. & Q. 17 Jan. 46/1 The misapprehension arose, probably, from a wrong construe of another edition, where the word plebeios [= vulgares]..was mistaken for a noun. Mod. Give me a construe of the passage. |