Etymology : Middle English, from Middle French and Latin; Middle French interpreter, from Latin interpretari, from interpret-, interpres agent, negotiator, interpreter
Pronunciation : in-t&r-pr&t, -p&t
Function : verb
Date : 14th century
1. explain, clarify, elucidate; orally translate from one language to another; understand or explain in a particular way; act out a part in a particular fashion. interpret\in*ter"pret\ , v. t. [imp. & p. p. interpreted; p. pr. & vb. n. interpreting.] [f. interprêter, l. interpretari, p. p. interpretatus, fr. interpre interpeter, agent, negotiator; inter between + (prob.) the root of pretium price. see:
price.].
2. 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. emmanuel, which being interpreted is, god with us. i.
3. and pharaoh told them his dreams; but there was none that could interpret them unto pharaoh. xli.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. To act as an interpreter. make sense of; assign a meaning to; "What message do you see:
in this letter?"; "How do you interpret his behavior?" give an interpretation or explanation to give an interpretation or rendition of; "The pianist rendered the Beethoven sonata beautifully".
8. 1. If you interpret something in a particular way, you decide that this is its meaning or significance. The whole speech might well be interpreted as a coded message to the Americans The judge quite rightly says that he has to interpret the law as it's been passed Both approaches agree on what is depicted in the poem, but not on how it should be interpreted.
9. If you interpret what someone is saying, you translate it immediately into another language. The chambermaid spoke little English, so her husband came with her to interpret Interpreters found they could not interpret half of what he said.