construe

 
Pronunciation: /kənˈstruː/

verb (construes, construing, construed)

[with object]
  • 1interpret (a word or action) in a particular way: his words could hardly be construed as an apology
  • 2 dated analyse the syntax of (a text, sentence, or word): both verbs can be construed with either infinitive
  • translate (a passage or author) word for word, typically aloud: she was construing straight-faced a suggestive passage of Ovid

Derivatives

construable

adjective

construal

noun

Origin:

late Middle English: from Latin construere (see construct), in late Latin 'analyse the construction of a sentence'