All 26 Uses of
interpret
in
Gulliver's Travels
- When I formerly hinted to you something of this in a letter, you were pleased to answer that you were afraid of giving offence; that people in power were very watchful over the press, and apt not only to interpret, but to punish every thing which looked like an innuendo (as I think you call it).
Chpt Intr. (definition 1)interpret = understand or explain (something in a particular way)
- But the remembrance of what I had felt, which probably might not be the worst they could do, and the promise of honour I made them—for so I interpreted my submissive behaviour— soon drove out these imaginations.
Chpt 1 (definition 1)interpreted = understood (in a particular way)
- This inventory I afterwards translated into English, and is, word for word, as follows: "Imprimis: In the right coat-pocket of the great man-mountain" (for so I interpret the words quinbus flestrin,) "after the strictest search, we found only one great piece of coarse-cloth, large enough to be a foot-cloth for your majesty's chief room of state."
Chpt 1 (definition 2)interpret = translate
- It is to be observed, that these ambassadors spoke to me, by an interpreter, the languages of both empires differing as much from each other as any two in Europe, and each nation priding itself upon the antiquity, beauty, and energy of their own tongue, with an avowed contempt for that of their neighbour; yet our emperor, standing upon the advantage he had got by the seizure of their fleet, obliged them to deliver their credentials, and make their speech, in the Lilliputian tongue.
Chpt 1 (definition 2)interpreter = someone who translates language
- She carried a little book in her pocket, not much larger than a Sanson's Atlas; it was a common treatise for the use of young girls, giving a short account of their religion: out of this she taught me my letters, and interpreted the words.
Chpt 2 (definition 2)interpreted = translated
- After much debate, they concluded unanimously, that I was only relplum scalcath, which is interpreted literally lusus naturae; a determination exactly agreeable to the modern philosophy of Europe, whose professors, disdaining the old evasion of occult causes, whereby the followers of Aristotle endeavoured in vain to disguise their ignorance, have invented this wonderful solution of all difficulties, to the unspeakable advancement of human knowledge.
Chpt 2 (definition 2)
- I then descended to the courts of justice; over which the judges, those venerable sages and interpreters of the law, presided, for determining the disputed rights and properties of men, as well as for the punishment of vice and protection of innocence.
Chpt 2 (definition 1)interpreters = experts who explain complex things in a manner non-experts can understand
- Whether they or their judges had any part in penning those laws, which they assumed the liberty of interpreting, and glossing upon at their pleasure?
Chpt 2 (definition 1)interpreting = understanding (something in a particular way)
- …you have clearly proved, that ignorance, idleness, and vice, are the proper ingredients for qualifying a legislator; that laws are best explained, interpreted, and applied, by those whose interest and abilities lie in perverting, confounding, and eluding them.
Chpt 2 (definition 1)interpreted = understood
- They are expressed in the most plain and simple terms, wherein those people are not mercurial enough to discover above one interpretation: and to write a comment upon any law, is a capital crime.
Chpt 2 (definition 1)interpretation = understanding of meaning
- After he had left me, I placed all my words, with their interpretations, in alphabetical order.
Chpt 3 (definition 2)interpretations = translations
- The word, which I interpret the flying or floating island, is in the original Laputa, whereof I could never learn the true etymology.
Chpt 3 (definition 2)interpret = translate
- Glubbdubdrib, as nearly as I can interpret the word, signifies the island of sorcerers or magicians.
Chpt 3 (definition 1) *interpret = understand
- I hired a young man, who came in the same ship, to be an interpreter; he was a native of Luggnagg, but had lived some years at Maldonada, and was a perfect master of both languages.
Chpt 3 (definition 2)interpreter = someone who translates language
- All my retinue was that poor lad for an interpreter, whom I persuaded into my service, and, at my humble request, we had each of us a mule to ride on.
Chpt 3 (definition 2)
- ...and by this expression was meant, that I desired leave to bring my interpreter; whereupon the young man already mentioned was accordingly introduced, by whose intervention I answered as many questions as his majesty could put in above an hour.
Chpt 3 (definition 2)
- I spoke in the Balnibarbian tongue, and my interpreter delivered my meaning in that of Luggnagg.
Chpt 3 (definition 2)
- The king was much delighted with my company, and ordered his bliffmarklub, or high-chamberlain, to appoint a lodging in the court for me and my interpreter; with a daily allowance for my table, and a large purse of gold for my common expenses.
Chpt 3 (definition 2)
- I had many acquaintance, and among persons of the best fashion; and being always attended by my interpreter, the conversation we had was not disagreeable.
Chpt 3 (definition 2)
- However, since the king was pleased to allow me access to his royal person, I was resolved, upon the very first occasion, to deliver my opinion to him on this matter freely and at large, by the help of my interpreter; and whether he would please to take my advice or not, yet...
Chpt 3 (definition 2)
- When I had ended, and the sum of my discourse had been interpreted, as before, to the rest of the company, there was a good deal of talk among them in the language of the country, not without some laughter at my expense.
Chpt 3 (definition 2)interpreted = translated
- At last, the same gentleman who had been my interpreter, said, "he was desired by the rest to set me right in a few mistakes, which I had fallen into through the common imbecility of human nature, and upon that allowance was less answerable for them."
Chpt 3 (definition 2)interpreter = someone who translates language
- They provided me with carriages and servants, and bore my charges to Yedo; where I was admitted to an audience, and delivered my letter, which was opened with great ceremony, and explained to the Emperor by an interpreter, who then gave me notice, by his majesty's order, "that I should signify my request, and, whatever it were, it should be granted, for the sake of his royal brother of Luggnagg."
Chpt 3 (definition 2)
- This interpreter was a person employed to transact affairs with the Hollanders.
Chpt 3 (definition 2)
- When this latter petition was interpreted to the Emperor, he seemed a little surprised; and said, "he believed I was the first of my countrymen who ever made any scruple in this point; and that he began to doubt, whether I was a real Hollander, or not; but rather suspected I must be a Christian."
Chpt 3 (definition 2)interpreted = translated
- I returned my thanks, by the interpreter, for so unusual a favour;
Chpt 3 (definition 2) *interpreter = someone who translates language
Definitions:
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(1) (interpret as in: her interpretation of the data) to understand or explain something in a particular way -- often the meaning or significance of something
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(2) (interpret as in: interpret Spanish to English) to translate words into spoken words of another language
(This word is especially used in place of translate when the translation is done real-time, or on-the-fly, or immediately as needed.)