interpret

n. 1. One who interpleads. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Law) A proceeding devised to enable a person, of whom the same debt, duty, or thing is claimed adversely by two or more parties, to compel them to litigate the right or title between themselves, and thereby to relieve himself from the suits which they might otherwise bring against him. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Interpreted; p. pr. & vb. n. Interpreting. ] [ F. interprêter, L. interpretari, p. p. interpretatus, fr. interpres interpeter, agent, negotiator; inter between + (prob.) the root of pretium price. See Price. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To explain or tell the meaning of; to expound; to translate orally into intelligible or familiar language or terms; to decipher; to define; -- applied esp. to language, but also to dreams, signs, conduct, mysteries, etc.; as, to interpret the Hebrew language to an Englishman; to interpret an Indian speech. [ 1913 Webster ]

Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matt. i. 23. [ 1913 Webster ]

And Pharaoh told them his dreams; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh. Gen. xli. 8. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To apprehend and represent by means of art; to show by illustrative representation; as, an actor interprets the character of Hamlet; a musician interprets a sonata; an artist interprets a landscape.

Syn. -- To translate; explain; solve; render; expound; elucidate; decipher; unfold; unravel. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To act as an interpreter. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. interpretabilis: cf. F. interprêtable. ] Admitting of interpretation; capable of being interpreted or explained. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. interpretamentum. ] Interpretation. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. interpretatio: cf. F. interprétation. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. The act of interpreting; explanation of what is obscure; translation; version; construction; as, the interpretation of a foreign language, of a dream, or of an enigma. [ 1913 Webster ]

Look how we can, or sad or merrily,
Interpretation will misquote our looks. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The sense given by an interpreter; exposition or explanation given; meaning; as, commentators give various interpretations of the same passage of Scripture. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The power or explaining. [ R. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Fine Arts) An artist's way of expressing his thought or embodying his conception of nature. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Math.) The act or process of applying general principles or formulæ to the explanation of the results obtained in special cases.

Syn. -- Explanation; solution; translation; version; sense; exposition; rendering; definition. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. interprétatif. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Designed or fitted to interpret; explanatory. “Interpretative lexicography.” Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. According to interpretation; constructive. [ 1913 Webster ]

An interpretative siding with heresies. Hammond. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By interpretation. Ray. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. OF. entrepreteur, L. interpretator. ] One who or that which interprets, explains, or expounds; a translator; especially, a person who translates orally between two parties. [ 1913 Webster ]

We think most men's actions to be the interpreters of their thoughts. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]