misconstrue

Founding-era definition · Webster's 1828 American Dictionary

MISCON'STRUE, verb transitive To interpret erroneously either words or things. It is important not to misconstrue the Scriptures. Do not, great sir, misconstrue his intent. A virtuous emperor was much affected to find his actions misconstrued.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI

More founding-era words: liberty · virtue · republic · justice · providence · commerce · militia · arms · prudence · establishment · religion · usurpation · tyranny · citizen · unalienable · sovereign