clue
noun
Origin
Old English and Germanic
clew — a ball of thread or yarn
Overview
Meaning Now
- A piece of evidence or information that helps solve a problem or mystery.
Literal older meaning
a ball of thread or yarn
Language path
Germanic → Old English → Middle English → Modern English
Earliest form
clew
Earliest period
Early English
Journey
Clue is a spelling variant of clew, an old word for a ball of thread. The image of thread guiding someone through a maze helped the word develop its figurative meaning: something that helps you find the way to an answer.
Evolution
- Early English
clew
“a ball of thread”
- Figurative use
clew
“a guide through a difficult path”
- Modern English
clue
“a piece of information that helps solve something”
Connections
Related words
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Related to clue
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.