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miˈsconstrue, v.
Also (β) 6–7 misconster, (-tre, -ture).
[mis-1 1. For stress cf. construe.]
1. a. trans. To put a wrong construction upon (words or actions); to mistake the meaning of (a person); to take in a wrong sense.
αc1374Chaucer Troylus i. 346 Ful ofte thy lady wole it misconstrue, And deme it harm in her opinioun. 1513More in Grafton Chron. (1568) II. 791 But these words king Edward made to be misconstrued, and enterpreted, that Burdet ment the Crowne of the realme. 1587Golding De Mornay xi. (1592) 158 Thou misconstrewest al the good which the bountifull prouidence of God doth vnto thee. 1601Shakes. Jul. C. v. iii. 84 Alas, thou hast misconstrued euery thing. 1611Bible Transl. Pref. ⁋1 It is sure to bee misconstrued, and in danger to be condemned. a1656Bp. Hall Rem. Wks. (1660) 241, I beseech you..misconstrue me not. 1675Otway Alcibiades iv. iii, Alas, dear Friend, misconstrue not my Zeal. 1791Mrs. Radcliffe Rom. Forest viii, I know that young ladies are apt to misconstrue the unmeaning gallantry of fashionable manners. 1849Macaulay Hist. Eng. v. I. 583 Words, it was said, may easily be misunderstood by an honest man. They may easily be misconstrued by a knave. 1861Dickens Let. 8 July (1880) II. 144, I fear you may sometimes have misconstrued my silence.
β1533More Apol. 85 They..of theyr owne fauour to them selfe, mysse constre [Wks. (1557) 869/2 mysse construe] the good mannys mynde. 1579Gosson Sch. Abuse To Rdr., His schollers were woont, how plaine soeuer he spake, to misconster him. 1596Shakes. Merch. V. ii. ii. 197 Least through thy wilde behauiour I be misconsterd in the place I goe to. 1640H. Glapthorne Ladies' Priviledge i. Wks. 1874 II. 100 You misconster The intention of my lookes, I am not angry Though much distemper'd. 1678Coleman in Trial of C. 59 So as to make them mis-conster all our endeavours. 1869Lonsdale Gloss., Misconster, corr[uption] of misconstrue.
absol.1609F. Grevil Mustapha iv. ii. F 2, Enuy tooke hold of worth, doubt did misconster. 1612Bp. Hall Contempl., O.T. iv. Birth of Moses Wks. (1625) 868 Then, he aggrauates, and misconstrues. 1842C. Lever Jack Hinton (1843) xlviii. 308 It is so easy, when people have no peculiar reasons to vindicate another—to misconstrue—perhaps condemn.
†b. intr. to misconstrue of (in the same sense).
1581Rich Farew. (1846) 145, I confesse I have trespassed in misconsteryng of your lines. 1588Greene Pandosto (1607) 4 He then began to..misconsture of their too priuate familiarity.
2. trans. To infer wrongly. rare—1.
1813Scott Rokeby iv. xxi, A kindly smile..So kind, that, from its harmless glee, The wretch misconstrued villany.
So miˈsconstruing vbl. n. and ppl. a.
1513More in Grafton Chron. (1568) II. 791 By the mis⁓construing of the lawes of the realme for the princes pleasure. 1603Knolles Hist. Turks (1621) 1290 A perverse interpretation or misconstruing of words. 1636Cowley Sylva Wks. (Grosart) I. 25/2 Lest the misconst'ring world should chance to say [etc.]. |