interpret

See also: Interpret and intèrpret

English

Etymology

From Middle English interpreten, from Old French enterpreter, (French interpréter), from Latin interpretor (to explain, expound, interpret), past participle interpretatus, from interpres (an agent, broker, explainer, interpreter, negotiator), from inter (between) + -pres, probably the root of pretium (price); -pres is probably connected with Ancient Greek φράζειν (phrázein, to point out, show, explain, declare, speak), from which φραδή (phradḗ, understanding), φράσις (phrásis, speech); see phrase.

Pronunciation

Verb

interpret (third-person singular simple present interprets, present participle interpreting, simple past and past participle interpreted)

  1. To explain or tell the meaning of; to translate orally into intelligible or familiar language or terms. applied especially to language, but also to dreams, signs, conduct, mysteries, etc.
    to interpret an Indian speech
    • The Holy Bible, Matthew i. 23.
      Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
    • The Holy Bible, Genesis xli. 8.
      And Pharaoh told them his dreams; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.
    • 2013 July 26, Leo Hickman, “How algorithms rule the world”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 7, page 26:
      The use of algorithms in policing is one example of their increasing influence on our lives. [] who, if anyone, is policing their use[?] Such concerns were sharpened further by the continuing revelations about how the US National Security Agency (NSA) has been using algorithms to help it interpret the colossal amounts of data it has collected from its covert dragnet of international telecommunications.
  2. To apprehend and represent by means of art; to show by illustrative representation
    The actor interpreted the character of Hamlet with great skill.
    The way the musician interpreted a sonata was quite special.
    an artist interprets a landscape
  3. (intransitive) To act as an interpreter.
    He interpreted at the meeting between the Chinese and French associates.

Synonyms

Translations

References


Czech

Noun

interpret m

  1. (programming) interpreter

Lower Sorbian

Etymology

From Latin interpres.

Noun

interpret m (feminine equivalent interpretka)

  1. performer

Declension

This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.