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reinterpret

/ˌˈriɪnˌtʌrprət/
IPA guide

Other forms: reinterpreted; reinterpreting; reinterprets

If you re-examined the meaning of something and found something new or different, you reinterpreted it. You thought that when Brian said, "I love you," he meant as a friend, but you may want to reinterpret the meaning of those words since he bought you a diamond ring.

The verb reinterpret also means to re-explain or interpret from a different point of view. Each year, historians try to reinterpret the primary source material in historical cases. For example, in 1892, Lizzie Borden's father and step-mother were killed with an ax. Lizzie was acquitted. Did she commit the crime? Well, historians examine and reexamine the evidence and interpret it and reinterpret it. Some think she did it and some think she was innocent. We may never know.

Definitions of reinterpret
  1. verb
    interpret from a different viewpoint
    synonyms: re-explain
    see moresee less
    type of:
    interpret, rede
    give an interpretation or explanation to
  2. verb
    assign a new or different meaning to
    see moresee less
    type of:
    construe, interpret, see
    make sense of; assign a meaning to
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