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misconstrue

verb [T]
 
 
/ˌmɪs.kənˈstruː/ formal

Definition

to form a false understanding of the meaning or intention of something that someone does or says: She said Harris had misconstrued her comments. Their caution was misconstrued as cowardice.Misunderstanding
(Definition of misconstrue verb from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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