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Consumer Credit Counseling Service
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construe

con·strue [ kən str ] (past and past participle con·strued, present participle con·stru·ing, 3rd person present singular con·strues)


verb 
Definition:
 
1. transitive verb interpret something in particular way: to interpret or understand the meaning of a word, gesture, or action in a particular way
His silence could be construed as an admission of guilt.

2. transitive and intransitive verb grammar analyze syntax of text: to analyze the syntax of a piece of text, especially text that is to be translated

3. transitive verb grammar use word in particular way: to use a word in a grammatical structure, e.g. by making it singular or plural
"Folk" is construed as plural, except when it means "folk music."

[14th century. < Latin construere (see construct)]

con·stru·a·bil·i·ty [ kən str ə bíllətee ] noun
con·stru·a·ble adjective
con·stru·al noun
con·stru·er noun
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