Construing

Part of speech: verb

Pronunciation: /kənˈstɹuːɪŋ/

Definitions

1. The process of interpreting or understanding meaning encompasses analyzing context as well as deducing intended significance within language
2. This involves the practice of inferring or elucidating meanings in written or spoken communication through careful examination of context
3. The act of explaining or clarifying meanings through the detailed assessment of language and context enables better comprehension of communication

Etymology: Latin "construere" meant "to pile together" or "to build," from "con-" (together) and "struere" (to heap up). Its relative "construct" kept that physical sense. "Construe" took a different path through the classroom. Students translating Latin rearranged a sentence's words into normal English order, so the verb came to mean analyzing a sentence's grammatical structure, which was the first step toward translating it. From there the sense widened to interpreting meaning in general, so a person could construe a law, a remark, or a gesture. The verb moved from assembling physical things to assembling the sense of words. "Construing" is simply its present participle and gerund form, used for the ongoing act.

Synonyms: interpreting, analyzing