Interpret negative things honestly (8)

I believe the answer is:

construe

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'interpret' is the definition.
('construe' can be a synonym of 'interpret')

'negative things honestly' is the wordplay.
'negative things' becomes 'cons' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'honestly' becomes 'true' (can be an adverb as in 'speak true', 'ring true').
'cons'+'true'='CONSTRUE'

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(Other definitions for construe that I've seen before include "Read - trounces (anag)" , "Translate" , "Make sense of -- trounces (anag)" , "Analyse language" , "Assign meaning, interpret" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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