Construe

"Construe," originally, must probably have meant, not to turn from one language into another, but to explain the construction, or what is called by the Greek name syntax, much like what in regard to a single word is called parsing.

Notes and Queries, Number 35, June 29, 1850 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc Various 1852

[552] Construe _neque secus castra munire, atque iter facere_; that is, his care in securing the camp was as great as that which he displayed in marching.

C. Sallusti Crispi De Bello Catilinario Et Jugurthino 86 BC-34? BC Sallust

[Footnote 3: See Latham's _English Language_, 2nd edition, p. 211] _Construe and translate_.

Notes and Queries, Number 32, June 8, 1850 Various

Construe it, "You may cut my throat, but not alter me," and it will show the pleasant state of party spirit at Nismes, if what we heard so near the scene of action be true.

Itinerary of Provence and the Rhone Made During the Year 1819 John Hughes

[182] Construe: "But if he hold this feeling and this mind (that is only his own working by custom) to be a special visitation."

The Cell of Self-Knowledge : seven early English mystical treatises printed by Henry Pepwell in 1521 Henry Pepwell 1902

Construe for me this short passage, these few verses: parse, analyse, resolve into component parts!

Paul Kelver, a Novel 1893

Construe, Nor yet did He enter for this purpose that He may offer

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible 1871

Construe the comment of her features as you might, from her mere words little would you have weened that Hunilla was herself the heroine of her tale.

The Piazza Tales Herman Melville 1855

[Footnote 354: Construe, κατὰ τόσας μὲν πυρὸς ἐσχάρας, ὅσαι ἰισὶ Τρώων, οἵδε οἶσιν ἀνάγκη ἐστὶν, ἐγρηγόρθασι, κ. τ. λ.]

The Iliad of Homer (1873) 750? BC-650? BC Homer 1840

Construe either of these articles by the rules which would justify the construction put on the new Constitution, and they vest in the existing Congress a power to legislate in all cases whatsoever.

The Federalist Papers 1788