Question

construe She asked how I had construed his last e-mail, and I told her that something about it had left me very worried. kənˈstru

Accepted Answer

(1) To explain the arrangement and meaning of words in a sentence. (2) To understand or explain; interpret. Construe can usually be translated as “interpret.” It's often used in law; thus, an Attorney General might construe the term “serious injury” in a child-abuse law to include bruises, or a judge might construe language about gifts to “heirs” to include spouses. The IRS's construal of some of your activities might be different from your own—and much more expensive at tax time. Construing is also close to translating; so when the British say “public school,” for instance, it should be construed or translated as “prep school” in American terms

word	construe
definition	(1) To explain the arrangement and meaning of words in a sentence. (2) To understand or explain; interpret.
eg_sentence	She asked how I had construed his last e-mail, and I told her that something about it had left me very worried.
explanation	Construe can usually be translated as “interpret.” It's often used in law; thus, an Attorney General might construe the term “serious injury” in a child-abuse law to include bruises, or a judge might construe language about gifts to “heirs” to include spouses. The IRS's construal of some of your activities might be different from your own—and much more expensive at tax time. Construing is also close to translating; so when the British say “public school,” for instance, it should be construed or translated as “prep school” in American terms
IPA	kənˈstru

Construe I Construed Translated Include Explain Arrangement Meaning