construed
Pronunciation: [kənˈstruːd]
Word
Context: “interpretation”
(verb) to understand or explain the meaning of something. When you hear a story or see something happen, you can draw your own conclusions about what it means.
Example
She construed his smile as a sign of friendliness.
Example
He didn't construe her silence as agreement; he thought she was upset.
Example
How did you construe the message she sent?
Context: “legal”
(verb) to interpret a law, rule, or contract. In legal matters, it’s important to understand just what the words mean so that everyone follows the rules correctly.
Example
The judge construed the law in a way that helped the defendant.
Example
The lawyer found that the phrase was not clearly construed in the contract.
Example
How will the court construe the new regulations?
0s0s