different between construe vs elicit

English

Alternative forms

• conster (obsolete)

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin construo, construere (“to relate grammatically”), from Latin construo (“pile together”); doublet of construct.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k?n?st?u?/
• (obsolete) IPA^(key): /?k?nst??/

Noun

construe (plural construes)

1. A translation.
2. An interpretation.

Related terms

Translations

Verb

construe (third-person singular simple present construes, present participle construing, simple past and past participle construed)

1. (transitive) To interpret or explain the meaning of something.
2. (grammar, transitive) To analyze the grammatical structure of a clause or sentence; to parse.

   • 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.

3. (grammar, ergative) To admit of grammatical analysis.
4. (transitive) To translate.
5. To infer.

Derived terms

• construction
• misconstrue

Translations

References

Anagrams

• Counters, Cutrones, cornutes, counters, countres, recounts, trounces

Latin

Verb

c?nstrue

1. second-person singular present active imperative of c?nstru?

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin elicitus from elici? (“draw forth”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??l?s?t/

• Rhymes: -?s?t

• Homophone: illicit

Verb

elicit (third-person singular simple present elicits, present participle eliciting, simple past and past participle elicited)

1. To evoke, educe (emotions, feelings, responses, etc.); to generate, obtain, or provoke as a response or answer.
2. To draw out, bring out, bring forth (something latent); to obtain information from someone or something.

   Fred wished to elicit the time of the meeting from Jane.

   Did you elicit a response?

   • 2009, William B. McGregor, Linguistics: An Introduction Answer Key

     He visited three department stores in New York and asked the attendant a question that would elicit the answer fourth floor; for example, he might have asked Excuse me, where are women's shoes?

3. To use logic to arrive at truth; to derive by reason

   Synonyms: deduce, construe

Translations

See also

• illicit

Adjective

elicit (not comparable)

1. (obsolete) Elicited; drawn out; made real; open; evident.
   • 1660, Jeremy Taylor, Ductor Dubitantium, or the Rule of Conscience

     An elicit act of equity.

Latin

Verb

?licit

1. third-person singular present active indicative of ?lici?