Middle English Dictionary Entry
constrūen v.
Entry Info
| Forms | constrūen v. Also constreuen, construwen. Sbj. pl. constre ye. |
| Etymology | L construere construct, arrange, etc. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Gram. To enter into construction (with a certain form); also, ben construed.
Associated quotations
- (c1434) Drury Wks.(CmbAdd 2830)81/88-9 : With what case construit þe posityf degre?..he may be construid with alle heme gouernyng, out-take þe nominatif & þe vocatif.
- c1450 Battlefield Gram.(Trin-C O.5.4)101 : Whenne my superlatyf degre is construid wyth a genityf case..'I am wysyst of thys companye'.
- c1450 Battlefield Gram.(Trin-C O.5.4)105 : Verbes that haue strengthe to constre wyth genityf case, as 'misereor reris'.
- c1450 Battlefield Gram.(Trin-C O.5.4)106 : Verbes that haue strengthe to constreu wyth datyf case, as placeo, noteo.
- c1450 Battlefield Gram.(Trin-C O.5.4)111 : How knowyste a verbe passyf? That at endyth in r..and may be construyd wyth an ablatyf case.
2.
(a) To frame or give a translation of (a Latin passage or text), translate by way of conveying the meaning; ~ on English, translate into English; (b) to write a text or composition correctly; ~ on English, write in English.
Associated quotations
a
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)4.128-33 : 'Nullum bonum..irremuneratum'. Let þi clerk, sire kyng, Construe þis in Englisch..Clerkes þat were confessours Coupled hem togedere Forte Construe þis Clause and distinkte hit after.
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)8.91 : 'Pers,' quod a prest þo, 'þi pardon most I reden, For I wol construe vch a clause and knowen hit in Englisch.'
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pri.(Manly-Rickert)B.1718 : His felawe gan he preye Texpounden hym this song in his langage, Or telle hym why this song was in vsage; This preyde he hym to construen and declare.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)prol.144 : Þanne gan alle þe comune crye in vers of latin..construe ho-so wolde: Precepta Regis sunt nobis vincula legis.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)4.145 : Late ȝowre confessoure, sire Kynge, construe þis vnglosed.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)5.285 : 'Cum sancto sanctus eris'; construe me þat on englische.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)17.118 : 'Incerta fortuna, absque solicitudine felicitas'; Ich can nat construen al this.
- c1400(?a1387) PPl.C (Hnt HM 137)18.110 : Þer is nouthe non..That can uersie [read: versifie] fayre..Ne þat can construen knydeliche þat poetes maden.
- a1425 Nicod.(1) (Add 32578)107 : 'Osanna'..What is þat forto say? We construe it þusgate [etc.].
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)49/7 : Lo! thus gan she singe in Latin, as I may constrewe it in our Englisshe tonge.
b
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.159 : Children in scole, aȝenst þe vsage and manere of alle oþere naciouns, beeþ compelled for to leue hire owne langage and for to construe hir lessouns and here þynges in Frensche [L construere Gallice compelluntur].
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)2.161 : Now..in alle the gramere scoles of Engelond, children leueth Frensche, and construeþ and lerneþ an Englische.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)30/34 : By decre..of..William conquerour, children..lernyd..to construyn yn frenssh and to maken here latyns on þe same wyse.
3.
To interpret or explain (a text, a statute, an abbreviation); construe; also, criticize [quot.De CMulieribus].
Associated quotations
- c1390 PPl.A(1) (Vrn)prol.58 : I Font þere Freres..Glosynge þe Gospel..For Couetyse of Copes Construeþ hit ille.
- c1390(1377) Death Edw.III (Vrn)11 : Ȝif ȝe construwe wel þis Clause.
- (1399) RParl.3.452a : If it [a statute] were so taken and construed to the heghest sentence.
- c1450 De CMulieribus (Add 10304)35 : All ladyes besechynge..To kepe this werke from sclaundyr..For som wyll allwey construe frowardly.
- (c1456) Pecock Faith (Trin-C B.14.45)279 : Ech good gramarien hath power to construe Scripture.
- c1460 Erly in a someristide (Dub 432)18 : What letters þei were I shal you telle..E.R.E..I construed þese letters þens or I went.
- a1475 Against Lollards (Vsp B.16)p.243 : That construen hit [the Bible]..For lewde lust of lollardie.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)prol.72 : Thouȝ þat elde..poure on it preuyly..And constrewe ich clause.
- ?c1475 *Cath.Angl.(Add 15562)28a : To Construe: exponere, construere, commentari.
4.
(a) To form an opinion, pass judgment (on sth.); make an inference, deduce (sth.); ~ conclusioun, draw a conclusion; construeth (that) as yow lyst, form your own opinion, take it as you please; (b) to interpret (a dream).
Associated quotations
a
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)2.36 : How construeth dauid þe kynge of men þat taketh Mede..þe Sauter bereth witnesse.
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.33 : Thynges which that folk on wondren so, Whan they kan nought construe how [etc.].
- (1447) Shillingford16 : Constre ye what ye will.
- c1450(c1386) Chaucer LGW Prol.(1) (Benson-Robinson)152 : Construeth that as yow lyst, I do no cure.
- c1450(?a1400) Wars Alex.(Ashm 44)1901 : Be þe hat..I constru þat ilka kyng sall clyne to my-selfe.
- (1465) Paston (Gairdner)4.129 : Yff they wold wyrke ayenst me..theyr disposicion woll be construed ferther than they wille it were.
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)4.68 : Some were so soleyne and sad of her wittis..Þat þei þe conclucion þan constrewe ne couþe.
- 1532-1897(c1385) Usk TL (Thynne:Skeat)132/148 : Constrewe forth..what thee good lyketh.
b
- c1450(a1425) MOTest.(SeldSup 52)1270 : His dreme he told [the clerkes] to constru by clergy.
5.
(a) construen art, ?to engage in scholarship or learning, ?practice courtly manners; (b) to settle (quarrels) by customary procedure.
Associated quotations
a
- c1450 Dc.Prov.(Dc 52)p.48 : Spele Frenssh and construe art, And þou schalt selde com to thy part.
b
- c1475(c1399) Mum & S.(1) (Cmb Ll.4.14)3.327 : Þey constrewed quarellis to quenche þe peple, And pletid with..poyntis of swerdis, And at þe domeȝeuynge drowe out þe bladis.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1414 Lin-C.Informacio (Lin-C 88)106/83 : For 'dominor, -aris' an 'misereor, -eris' wil constru with genitif case an datif case.
Note: Antedates sense 1.
Note: New spelling: Also constru
- a1475 Peniarth Informacio(1) (Pen 356B)95/107 : For these ij verbys 'desino' and 'abstenio' will constrw whit the genetyffe case ex vi transicionis personalis.
Note: Postdates sense 1.
- a1475 Peniarth Informacio(1) (Pen 356B)93/24 : What scall thow do when thow hast an Englyche to make a Laten?..Yff my princypall uerbe be a uerbe impersonell, I schall begynne at hymne to make Laten and to constrew.
Note: New spelling: Also constreu.
Note: Postdates sense 1.--notes per MLL