1. interpreting or understanding the meaning of something, especially text or language
Usage: present participle of construe
2. translating word by word, especially from Latin or another classical language
Usage: academic; present participle of construe

Examples

• The students were construing the Latin passage carefully.
• She had difficulty construing the ancient text.
• The lawyer was construing the contract’s ambiguous language.
• He spent hours construing the poem’s hidden meanings.
• The teacher helped them with construing the difficult sentence.
• They were construing his silence as agreement.