I'd understood the words, but I didn't, as it were, understand the question.是什么意思？

I'd understood the words, but I didn't, as it were, understand the question.

字面的意思我懂了，但是可以说我并不能理解这个问题。

understood

v. 懂，理解( understand的过去式和过去分词 )，了解，默认，听说；

例句
I never understood why he didn't just accede to our demands at the outset.
我一直搞不懂他为什么不一开始就同意我们的要求。

the

art. 指已提到的人（物），指说话人与听者已知的人（物），用于独一无二的事物前，与形容词最高级和序数词连用；

例句
He did have a real knowledge of the country...
他对该国的确知之甚多。

words

n. 字( word的名词复数 )，（说的）话，诺言，口令；

例句
She felt as if his words had granted her absolution.
她感觉他的那番话好似给她下了道赦令。

but

conj. 但是，而是，除了，只因为；prep. 除…以外；adv. 只，不过，只是，另一方面；n. 借口，推辞，但是，反对；pron. [关系代词，意义相当于 who…not, which…not]；vt. 对…说“但是”；

例句
English food can be wonderful but the normal English diet is abominable.
英国也有美食，只是一般的日常饮食太过糟糕。

as

adv. 同样地，一样地，例如；prep. 作为，以…的身份，如

例句
As far as I can recall, Patti was a Smith.
我记得帕蒂是姓史密斯的。

it

pron. 它，他，正好是所需的，事实[情况]；n. <美俚>傻瓜，笨蛋，<俚>绝妙的人，理想的东西，登峰造极；

例句
I suggest you leave it to an expert...
我建议你把它留给专家来解决。

were

be的过去时复数和第二人称单数形式，有时代替 was,用于条件从句、动词 wish 之后等；

例句
Shops, houses, and vehicles were set ablaze.
店铺、房子和车辆全都陷于火海。

understand

vt.& vi. 懂，理解；vt. 了解，默认，听说，领会；

例句
Another accusation levelled at the Minister is that he does not understand ordinary people...
另一个矛头则直指部长不懂得体恤百姓。

question

n. 问题，疑问，怀疑，议题；vt. 问（某人）问题，对（某事物）表示[感到]怀疑；

例句
...certain assumptions which are accepted without question as absolute truths.
某些未经质疑就被作为绝对真理而全盘接受的假设