Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Misconstrue, Misconster, v. Also: misconstrew(e, -strow, -struy, -strie, miscontrew, misconter. [e.m.E. and ME. misconstrue (Chaucer), -strew, also e.m.E. mysse constre (1533), misconster.] tr. To put a wrong construction on, take in a wrong sense, misconstrue, misunderstand, misinterpret or misrepresent (words or actions or the person speaking or acting).(a) 1568 Anderson Collect. Mary IV. ii. 115.
And swa for lake of information misconstruying our doings 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 27.
The particular persones which … misconstrie the nobilities sinceir and honourabill intentiounes 1578 Reg. Privy C. III. 3.
Certane invyous personis … went about to miscontrew the doingis of sic as wes cairfull of the same 1585 Acts III. 375/1. c1590 Fowler II. 14/4.
I beseik ȝow effecteously that ȝe wald not miscontrew my guid mening 1592 Warrender P. II. 178. 1599 Reg. Privy C. VI. 41.
Certane malicious … bodyis quha … misconstrowes his majesteis haill doingis and misinterpreitis his hienes gude intentionis 1629 Justiciary Cases I. 131.
And that thai may be misconstrowid in speiking thairof(b) 1609 Grahame Anat. Hum. 31 b.
Farre be it from mee … to misconster the civill behaviour of an honest virgine 1631 Bk. Carlaverock II. 47. c1650 Spalding II. 27. 1643 Fam. Rose 334.
We hard never any man misconter yow by any evill report