Interpretation

In*ter`pre*ta"tion (ĭn*tẽr`prē*tā"shŭn), n. [L. interpretatio: cf. F. interprétation.]

1. The act of interpreting; explanation of what is obscure; translation; version; construction; as, the interpretation of a foreign language, of a dream, or of an enigma.

Look how we can, or sad or merrily,
Interpretation will misquote our looks.
Shak.

2. The sense given by an interpreter; exposition or explanation given; meaning; as, commentators give various interpretations of the same passage of Scripture.

3. The power or explaining. [R.] Bacon.

4. (Fine Arts) An artist's way of expressing his thought or embodying his conception of nature.

5. (Math.) The act or process of applying general principles or formulæ to the explanation of the results obtained in special cases.

Syn. -- Explanation; solution; translation; version; sense; exposition; rendering; definition.