Forms: α. 4–5 construen, -struwe, 5 -stru, -strew, -struyn, 5–6 -strewe, 4– construe; β. 5–6 constre, 6–9 conster, (6 constyrre, 8 cunster). [ME. constru-en, ad. L. construĕre to pile together, build up, CONSTRUCT, also to connect grammatically, construct sentences, whence in med.L. as in sense 3. The corresponding F. construire is a late word, but occurs in Palsgr., 1530, in the grammatical use. If our word had been derived through Fr. it would have had the forms construy, constroy: cf. destroy. At an early date the stress was put on the first syllable, and the final reduced to -stre, -ster: conster continued to be the pronunciation down to the 19th c., even after it had disappeared as a written form. Walker, 1791, called this ‘a scandal to seminaries of learning.’]
† 1. trans. To form by putting together materials, to CONSTRUCT. Obs.
[1399. Langl., Rich. Redeles, III. 327. They constrewed quarellis to quenche þe peple, And pletid with pollaxis and poyntis of swerdis.]
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xv. (1890), 59. He had construed, edyfyed, and made an hondred temples wythin his royalme.
1605. Timme, Quersit., I. xv. 71. The braine … is defended and construed by Mercurie, the third radical beginning.
2. Gram. To combine (words, or parts of speech) grammatically. Now, to combine a verb, adjective, preposition, or other word with the case or relational words with which it is syntactically used.
1530. Palsgr., 495. I constrewe as a grammarian dothe a sentence, when he joyneth the partes of speche in order, je construis.
1612. Brinsley, Pos. Parts (1669), 1. The construing or framing and setting together of the eight parts of speech.
Mod. The verb hearken is construed with the prepositions to, unto. In German many prepositions are construed with the dative.
3. Gram. To analyze or trace the grammatical construction of a sentence; to take its words in such an order as to show the meaning of the sentence; spec. to do this in the study of a foreign and especially a classical language, adding a word for word translation; hence, loosely, to translate orally a passage in an ancient or foreign author.
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. IV. 128. For nullum malum þe Mon mette with inpunitum, And bad nullum bonum: be irremuneratum. Let þi Clerk, sire kyng, Construe þis in Englisch.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prioress’s T., 76.
| This prayd he him to construe and declare, | |
| Ful often tyme upon his knees bare. |
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 159. Children in scole beeþ compelled for … to construe hir lessouns and here þynges in Frensche [construere Gallice compelluntur].
1481. Caxton, Myrr., I. vii. 34. He coude make and construe euery worde, and pronounce it by example.
1580. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 362. She drew out hir petrarke, requesting him to conster hir a lesson.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shr., III. i. 30. Conster them.
1612. Brinsley, Lud. Lit., 113. What they can so construe or reade out of the English into Latine.
1745. Chesterf., Lett., I. ciii. 285. If I did not construe Homer, and play at pitch.
1813. Moore, Post-bag, v. 293. Have you found any friend that can conster That Latin account, t’other day, of a Monster?
1840. Macaulay, Ess., Ranke (1851), II. 142. He cannot construe a Greek author.
b. absol.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 161. Now … in alle the grammar scoles of Engelond, children leveth Frensche, and construeth and lerneth on Englische.
1575. Laneham, Lett. (1871), 61. I coold my rulez, coold conster & pars with the best of them.
1643. Sir T. Browne, Relig. Med., I. § 44. Since I have been able not onely as we do at schoole, to construe, but understand.
1852. Bristed, 5 Years Eng. Univ., 18. The lecturer stands, and the lectured sit, even when construing, as the Freshmen are sometimes asked to do.
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxf., i. (1889), 6. If you were to hear the men construe, it would make your hair stand on end.
c. intr. (for pass.) Of a series of words: To admit of grammatical analysis or interpretation.
1851. J. H. Newman, Cath. in Eng., 59. Definite dogma, intelligible articles, formularies which would construe, a consistent ritual.
Mod. This sentence will not construe; I can make nothing of it. His verses did not scan, and would barely construe.
4. trans. To give the sense or meaning of; to expound, explain, interpret (language).
1399. Langl., Rich. Redeles, Prol. 72. Poure on it preuyly … And constrewe ich clause with þe culorum.
1483. Cath. Angl., 75. To Constru, exponere, construere.
1545. Joye, Exp. Dan., ix. X vj b. Geve me leave to conster you thys laste verse.
1581. Savile, Tacitus’ Hist., II. xxxix. (1591), 76. Such as had rather construe [interpretari] then execute his Generals commaundementes.
1771. Smollett, Humph. Cl., I. 3 June. We can cunster the crabbidst buck [= book].
1796. J. Anstey, Pleader’s Guide (1803), 50. Though the Law in modern days Three barbarous Tongues no more displays, Like Pluto’s triple headed monster, And Pleaders can their Pleadings construe.
1883. Browning, Jocoseria, Sol. & Balkis. O wisest thou of the wise, world’s marvel and well-nigh monster, One crabbed question more to construe or vulgo conster!
b. To expound, interpret, or take in a specified way (often apart from the real sense).
1362. Langl., P. Pl., A. Prol. 58. I font þere Freres … Glosynge þe Gospel as hem good likeþ For Couetyse of Copes Construeþ hit ille.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., VII. 308. Let wyse men that here this Cronycle constrewe it after theyr discressions.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., III. (1632), 135. That which the Word of God doth but deliuer historically, we conster without any warrant as if it were legally meant.
1663. Butler, Hud., I. iii. 1214. If we conster What in th’Apocalyps we find, According to th’Apostles mind.
1795. Burke, Corr. (1844), IV. 312. I am not a man for construing with too much rigour the expressions of men under a sense of ill-usage.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 234. The country was not then inclined to construe the letters of Papists candidly.
c. with various complements and extensions.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1673), 274. Some farryars … conster the word ‘taken’ to be ‘stricken by some planet or evill spirit.’
1641. J. Jackson, True Evang. T., I. 4. [This Text] the Jews construe of Christ still to come, and of his temporall Monarchy.
1702. Addison, Dial. Medals, II. 123. When the word is construed into its idea the double meaning vanishes.
1720. Lett. from Mist’s Wkly. Jrnl. (1722), II. 55. Any thing that can be construed an obscure or scurrilous Insinuation.
1754. Richardson, Grandison, I. xxxvi. 252. When she speaks anything that some would construe to her disadvantage.
1856. Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. v. 416. He abstained … from using any expression which could be construed into a threat.
1876. E. Mellor, Priesth., v. 221. Not one word which can be construed as having the remotest connection with sacrificial ideas.
5. Law. To explain or interpret for legal purposes. (A technical application of 4.)
1581. Lambarde, Eiren., IV. xix. (1588), 603. There can be no higher authoritie of exposition, then to construe one statute by an other.
1592. West, 1st Pt. Symbol. (1647), § 60 B. The same be not hurtfull nor prejudiciall to the said execution, nor may be deemed or construed a good and sufficient matter.
1710. Steele, Tatler, No. 264, ¶ 9. Provided also, That this Rule be not construed to extend to the Fair Sex.
1767. Blackstone, Comm., II. 147. Courts of law have … leant as much as possible against construing demises, where no certain term is mentioned, to be tenancies at will.
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), II. 332. It is a usual manner of construing new acts, according to the old rules.
1885. Sir R. Baggallay in Law Times Rep., LII. 560/1. Authority is of very little use in construing an unskilfully drawn will.
6. transf. To interpret, give a meaning to, put a construction on (actions, things, or persons).
1465. Paston Lett., No. 498, II. 175. Theyr disposicion woll be construed ferther than they wille it were.
1581. Savile, Tacitus’ Hist., IV. lxxxvi. (1591), 236. His brother whose vnlike and farre more curteous nature he construed [interpretabatur] contrarily.
1583. Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 45. Of one od subtil stratagem, most treacherus handling Conster al.
a. 1656. Bp. Hall, Breath. Devout Soul (1851), 165. O Lord God … how variously am I construed by men!
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 52, ¶ 3. Our Minds are construed by the waving of that little Instrument [the fan].
1719. D’Urfey, Pills (1872), IV. 208. Few can tell his Pedigree, Or his subtile Nature conster.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., xxviii. You construe me but justly.
1879. Froude, Cæsar, xv. 226. So Cicero had construed the situation … and he had construed it ill.
b. with various complements and extensions.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 1901. And be þe hat, þat is holewe be-for þe heued bowed, I constru þat ilka kyng sall clyne to my-selfe.
1494. Fabyan, Chron., V. xcviii. 71. The whiche was construed to be done by vertue of the holy Ghoost.
1535. Coverdale, Bible, Prol. ¶ 5. Though. I have fayled eny where … loue shall constyrre all to ye best.
a. 1592. Greene, Jas. IV. (1861), 189. Thy virtues shall be construed to vice.
1607. Tourneur, Rev. Trag., I. iii. 26. I conster my selfe sawcy.
1649. Milton, Eikon., 168. All must be consterd Reason in the king and depraved temper in the Parlament.
1720. Ozell, Vertot’s Rom. Rep., II. XIII. 276. Cæsar’s Robberies were construed for political Actions.
1831. Fonblanque, Engl. under 7 Admin. (1837), II. 120. Prudence will be construed pusillanimity.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Brooke Farm, ii. 25. These gentlemen assure me that silence will be construed as an affront.
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr. (1864), IV. VII. ii. 39. The popular conception would construe that consent … into an act of freewill.
† c. in a bad sense: cf. misconstrue. Obs.
c. 1620. Fletcher & Mass., Trag. Barnavelt, I. iii., in Bullen, Old Pl., II. 221. To have your actions consturd, scornd and scoffd at By such malignant soules!
7. To deduce (a meaning, etc.) by interpretation; to judge by inference, infer.
c. 1450. Crt. of Love, lix. Construe the best, believe no tales newe, For many a lie is told, that semeth ful trewe.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 36. Sholde they whan they wake construe ony treuth to folowe of this mater.
1591. Horsey, Trav., App. (Hakluyt Soc.), 298. Wee will conster the beste of all thinges.
1606. Bryskett, Civ. Life, 183. You may haply conster that meaning out of that place.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, I. 203. By these my signs the wise will easily conster How little thou didst differ from a monster.
1884. Gustafson, Found. Death, i. 5. Even from this it cannot be fairly construed that gross drunkenness was common.
b. absol. or intr. Const. † of.
1584. Peele, Arraignm. Paris, II. i. 24. We must not conster hereof as you mean.
1594. Daniel, Compl. Rosamond, xxxii. A sinful monster, As by her words the chaster sort may conster.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. vi. § 16. If we should judge or construe of the store of some excellent jeweller, by that … which is set out toward the street in his shop.
† 8. To understand (a person, i.e., his meaning).
1622. Dekker, Virg. Martyr, II. Wks. (1873), IV. 29. I now conster thee.
† 9. To inform by way of explanation; to explain.
1601. Shaks., Twel. N., III. i. 63. My Lady is within sir. I will conster to them whence you come.
