Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “construe” come from?

Construe comes from Late Latin construo, derived from the Latin prefix com- meaning "together" combined with a root meaning "to build or arrange."

construe (English): A translation; An interpretation; To interpret or...

Definitions

  1. A translation; An interpretation; To interpret or...

Ancestry of “construe”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishconstruen—
2Late Latinconstruoto relate grammatically; I heap, bring, collect...
3Latincōnstruō—
4Latincōn-—
5Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
6Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
7Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
10Middle Englishkyt—
11Germankitt—
12Old High Germankuti—
13Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
14Proto-Germanickweduzresin
15Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
16Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “construe”

  • construal
  • construable
  • reconstrue
  • reconstrual
  • construer
  • inconstruable
  • deconstrue
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →