construe
gb/kənstɹˈu/ us/kənstɹˈu/
C1
Anglais
~ 26500
értelmez, nyelvtanilag elemez, lefordít
VERBE
C1
FORMAL
1
értelmez
B2
Schéma d’usage :
to construe [something] as [something]; to be construed as [something]
Her silence could be construed as agreement.
The comment was widely construed as an attack on the mayor.
He did not intend his joke to be construed as an insult.
Investors construed the sudden resignations as a sign of trouble.
This move may be construed as a step toward greater transparency.
Exemples pédagogiques
Some people construed his smile as a lie.
The message can be construed as a warning.
I did not mean my words to be construed as a threat.
Her actions were construed as a sign of respect.
The rule was construed as unfair by many students.
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse “construe” with “construct” because they look similar. They also sometimes think “construe” is always negative, like “misconstrue”. In fact, “construe” is neutral (to interpret), while “misconstrue” means to interpret in a wrong way. In everyday English, “interpret” is more common than “construe” and is usually a better choice for learners.
Sens
interpret something in a particular way
Collocations
construe [something] as [something]
|be construed as [something]
|can be construed as
|should not be construed as
|easily construed as
|widely construed as
Synonymes
interpret (More common and neutral; lacks the formal or legal flavor that “construe” often has.)
|
understand (Broader and more general; does not always suggest a deliberate or analytical reading the way “construe” does.)
|
take (Informal; often used in speech (e.g., “take that as a threat”) where “construe” would sound formal.)
Antonymes
misinterpret (Means to understand something in a wrong way, whereas “construe” itself is neutral about being right or wrong.)
|
ignore (Describes not trying to find meaning at all, the opposite of actively construing something.)
Thèmes
communication
|thinking
|law
|core_vocabulary
Définition
To understand or explain what someone’s words, actions, or a situation mean, often in a particular way.
To interpret or understand the meaning of words, actions, or events in a particular way.
VERBE
C2
TECHNICAL
2
értelmez
C1
Schéma d’usage :
to construe [a law / a clause / a document]
The court construed the statute narrowly to avoid criminalizing ordinary behavior.
A bíróság szűken értelmezte a törvényt, hogy a hétköznapi viselkedést ne nyilvánítsa bűncselekménnyé.
This clause is generally construed as giving employees the right to appeal.
Ezt a záradékot általában úgy értelmezik, hogy fellebbezési jogot ad a munkavállalóknak.
Under current case law, the term “vehicle” is construed broadly to include electric scooters.
The agreement must be construed in accordance with Swiss law.
Any ambiguity will be construed against the party who drafted the contract.
Exemples pédagogiques
The judge must construe the new law.
A bírónak értelmeznie kell az új törvényt.
This rule is construed in a very strict way.
Ezt a szabályt nagyon szigorúan értelmezik.
The contract is construed under English law.
In this country, the tax law is construed very broadly.
If the words are not clear, the court will construe them carefully.
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may use “construe” in legal writing when “interpret” would be clearer to a general audience. In non-legal contexts, saying “interpret the contract” is usually safer than “construe the contract” unless a formal legal tone is desired.
Sens
interpret legal or formal wording
Collocations
construe a statute
|construe a contract
|construe a provision
|narrowly construed
|broadly construed
|strictly construed
Synonymes
interpret (General term; lacks the specific legal focus and does not imply the same concern with precise wording as in legal construal.)
|
construe narrowly (A set phrase in law meaning to interpret in a limited way, focusing on the narrowest reading of the text.)
|
construe broadly (A set phrase in law meaning to interpret in a wide and inclusive way.)
Antonymes
misinterpret (In legal contexts, this refers to applying an incorrect reading of the text, the opposite of correctly construing it.)
|
disregard (To ignore the wording instead of carefully construing it, which is the opposite of the careful analysis implied by “construe”.)
Thèmes
law
|business
|government
Définition
To decide what the words in a law, contract, or official paper mean and how they should be used.
To interpret the meaning and intended effect of the words in a law, contract, or other formal document.
VERBE
C2
TECHNICAL
3
Schéma d’usage :
to construe [a sentence / a phrase] grammatically
The sentence can be construed in two different ways, leading to ambiguity.
A mondat kétféleképpen is nyelvtanilag elemezhető, ami kétértelműséghez vezet.
Students were asked to construe each clause before translating the passage.
A diákokat arra kérték, hogy a szöveg lefordítása előtt minden tagmondatot nyelvtanilag elemezzenek.
In this reading, we construe the prepositional phrase as modifying the verb, not the noun.
The relative clause is best construed as non-restrictive in this context.
Linguists disagree on how to construe the subject of this construction.
Exemples pédagogiques
The teacher showed us how to construe this long sentence.
A tanár megmutatta nekünk, hogyan kell nyelvtanilag elemezni ezt a hosszú mondatot.
It is hard to construe this phrase correctly.
Nehéz ezt a kifejezést helyesen nyelvtanilag elemezni.
We had to construe each line before we translated it.
Please construe the sentence and mark the subject and verb.
In this exercise, you must construe every clause.
Erreur fréquente :
Learners rarely use this technical sense. When they do, they may think “construe” simply means “translate”. In modern teaching, “parse” or “analyze grammatically” is more common and clearer.
Sens
analyze a sentence grammatically
Collocations
construe a sentence
|construe a phrase
|can be construed grammatically
|difficult to construe
|construe the clause
Synonymes
parse (The most common technical term for breaking a sentence into its grammatical parts; very close in this sense but more widely used today.)
|
analyze (General word for detailed study; does not specifically mean grammatical analysis unless the context says so.)
Antonymes
misparse (To analyze the grammar incorrectly, the opposite of correctly construing a sentence.)
Thèmes
language
|education
|linguistics
|communication
Définition
To look at a sentence and say how the words work together in grammar.
To analyze and explain the grammatical structure of a sentence or phrase, especially in linguistic or language-teaching contexts.
VERBE
C2
ARCHAIC
4
lefordít
B1
Schéma d’usage :
to construe [a passage / a text] into [a language]
The students were required to construe ten lines of Latin each morning.
A diákoknak minden reggel tíz sor latin szöveget kellett lefordítaniuk.
He slowly construed the Greek passage into English for the class.
Lassan lefordította a görög részletet angolra az osztálynak.
In older grammar schools, pupils spent hours construing classical texts.
She could readily construe French verse without a dictionary.
The exercise asked us to construe and parse the following paragraph.
Exemples pédagogiques
In the past, students had to construe Latin every day.
Régen a diákoknak minden nap latint kellett fordítaniuk.
The teacher told them to construe the poem into English.
A tanár azt mondta nekik, hogy fordítsák le a verset angolra.
He learned to construe short Greek texts at school.
They spent an hour trying to construe the old letter.
Today we usually say “translate”, not “construe”.
Sens
translate from one language
Collocations
construe a passage
|construe into English
|construe line by line
Synonymes
translate (The normal modern word; “construe” in this sense is old-fashioned and mostly found in older texts.)
Antonymes
leave untranslated (To keep the text in its original language instead of construing or translating it.)
Thèmes
language
|education
|communication
Définition
To change a text into another language, in an old or very formal way of speaking.
To translate a text from one language into another, especially as an old-fashioned term used in language teaching.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
construe
API
GB/kənstɹˈu/
US/kənstɹˈu/
Syllabes et accentuation
con - strue (2 syllabes)
Stress on 2nd syllable (strue)
Formes du mot
Verb
- Base: construe
- 3rd Person Singular: construes
- Present Participle: construing
- Past: construed
Famille de mots
Forms
construes
verb
construing
verb
construed
verb
Negative and opposite forms
misconstrue
verb
Advanced or less common
construal
noun
Expressions
be construed as
1/bˈi kənstɹˈud ˈæz/
fixed phrase
formal
be understood as meaning something
Used to say that something may be understood in a certain way, often in formal writing and warnings.
Exemples
- This information should not be construed as medical advice.
- His statement was construed as an admission of guilt.
- The report must not be construed as an official position of the committee.
construe [something] as [something]
1/kənstɹˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ ˈæz sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
interpret something as something
To understand or explain something as having a particular meaning or value.
Exemples
- Many users construed the update as a sign that the company was changing direction.
- She construed his late reply as a lack of interest.
- Some voters construed the speech as a promise of tax cuts.
not to be construed as
1/nˈɑt tə bˈi kənstɹˈud ˈæz/
fixed phrase
formal
state that it must not be read as
Used in formal writing to say clearly that something should not be understood in a certain way.
Exemples
- The contents of this email are not to be construed as a legally binding offer.
- Any examples given are not to be construed as a guarantee of future performance.