construe

/kən-ˈstrü/

Middle English, from Late Latin construere, from Latin, to construct

verb

  1. to understand or explain the sense or intention of usually in a particular way or with respect to a given set of circumstances

  2. to analyze the arrangement and connection of words in (a sentence or sentence part)

  3. to construe a sentence or sentence part especially in connection with translating

construed my actions as hostile

noun

  1. an act or the result of construing especially by piecemeal translation

verb

  1. to interpret (something, such as a statement or action) wrongly : misinterpret

  2. to misinterpret the meaning, intention, or character of (someone)

misconstrued her words/meaning/silence