Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “misconstrue” come from?

Misconstrue comes from Middle English misconstruen, meaning to interpret incorrectly or misunderstand the construction of words or meaning.

misconstrue (English): To interpret erroneously, to understand...

Definitions

  1. To interpret erroneously, to understand...

Ancestry of “misconstrue”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishconstrueA translation; An interpretation; To interpret or...
2Middle Englishconstruen—
3Late Latinconstruoto relate grammatically; I heap, bring, collect...
4Latincōnstruō—
5Latincōn-—
6Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
7Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
8Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
10Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
11Middle Englishkyt—
12Germankitt—
13Old High Germankuti—
14Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
15Proto-Germanickweduzresin
16Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
17Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “misconstrue”

  • misconstrual
  • misconstruable
  • misconstruer
  • misconstruation
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →