Latin Love: struere

The prefix con- means "with" or "together," and the root -struct means "to build" or "to assemble," so the word construct is itself an example of its own meaning. You may have heard the term constructive criticism, which refers to the kind of criticism that is intended to rebuild, or reconstruct, a person in a more positive way. Still, any kind of criticism is likely to sting a little, no matter how constructive it is.

The prefix de- means, in this case, "removal" (dehumidify, defame, dehumanize), and the root -struct means "to build." We speak of destructive forces as being capable of destroying, or disassembling. Interestingly we more often use the word destroy over destruct, except when we say that something will self-destruct.

When we speak of someone being instrumental in bringing about some kind of result, we mean that they helped to build it, not that they played a musical instrument during the process. To be instrumental is to be a means of building something, just as a musical instrument is a means of delivering music.

To construe is to build a mental meaning, to interpret. Construe and construct are closely related, with construe having the narrower meaning of referring only to the way the mind assembles meaning out of evidence and background knowledge.

In the last act of Julius Caesar, Brutus expresses his despair as he stands next to his soon-to-die buddy Cassius. "Thou hast misconstrued everything," he laments. Indeed, it was Brutus who misconstrued Cassius's motivation for the assassination of Caesar. Whether tragical or comical, misinterpretations between characters are the stars of the show.

When people refer to "structural changes" or "structural reform," they are referring to the basic elements of a system, its bones, how it is built from the ground up. Sometimes the word systemic is used in this context, to refer to the entire system, not just the edges of it.

An obstruction is a blockage. A speed bump is a physical obstruction. Obstruction of justice occurs when a witness deliberately blocks the progress of the legal system by refusing to answer legitimate questions asked by officers of the court.

The inner workings of a complex, constructed system are often referred to as its infrastructure. Buildings themselves, along with their walls, stairwells, elevators, and ventilation systems are part of the infrastructure of a city, as are roads, along with bridges and tunnels, and the electrical grid, including telephone lines.

While the word construction connotes a physical building of some sort, the word constructive usually refers to words and attitudes. A constructive attitude is a positive attitude, one that leads to persistence and productivity. A constructive debate is one that will result in positive changes and compromise, rather than just argument. And, although no one really welcomes it, constructive criticism is done with kindness and a genuine belief that you can change for the better.

To restructure is to start over again, reorganizing and rearranging. In business, when companies restructure, employees often lose their positions, get new bosses, have to work different hours, and may be expected to do different kinds of work.