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Construe vs Estimate - What's the difference?

construe | estimate |

As nouns the difference between construe and estimate

is that construe is a translation while estimate is a rough calculation or guess.

As verbs the difference between construe and estimate

is that construe is to interpret or explain the meaning of something while estimate is to calculate roughly, often from imperfect data.

construe

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A translation.
  • An interpretation.
  • Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To interpret or explain the meaning of something.
  • The world must construe''' according to its wits; this court must '''construe according to the law.
    , 1954
  • (grammar) To analyze the grammatical structure of a clause or sentence.
  • *
  • Thus, in a sentence such as:
    (113)      John considers [S Fred'' to be too sure of ''himself'']
    the italicised Reflexive ''himself'' can only be construed''' with ''Fred'', not with ''John'': this follows from our assumption that non-subject Reflexives must have an antecedent within their own S. Notice, however, that in a sentence such as:
    (114)      ''John'' seems to me [S — to have perjured ''himself'']
    ''himself'' must be '''construed
    with ''John
    .
  • To translate.
  • Derived terms

    * construction * misconstrue

    Anagrams

    * * * * ----

    estimate

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (archaic)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A rough calculation or guess.
  • (construction and business) A document (or verbal notification) specifying how much a job will probably cost.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1928, author=Lawrence R. Bourne
  • , title=Well Tackled! , chapter=3 citation , passage=“They know our boats will stand up to their work,” said Willison, “and that counts for a good deal. A low estimate from us doesn't mean scamped work, but just that we want to keep the yard busy over a slack time.”}}

    Synonyms

    * estimation * appraisal

    Derived terms

    * ballpark estimate

    Verb

  • To calculate roughly, often from imperfect data.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1965, author=Ian Hacking, title=Logic of Statistical Inference, passage=I estimate that I need 400 board feet of lumber to complete a job, and then order 350 because I do not want a surplus, or perhaps order 450 because I do not want to make any subsequent orders.
  • citation
  • * '>citation
  • To judge and form an opinion of the value of, from imperfect data.
  • * John Locke
  • It is by the weight of silver, and not the name of the piece, that men estimate commodities and exchange them.
  • * J. C. Shairp
  • It is always very difficult to estimate the age in which you are living.

    Synonyms

    * appraise * guess

    Derived terms

    * estimable * underestimate * overestimate