clue
English
Etymology
Variant of clew (“a ball of thread or yarn”), from Middle English clewe, from Old English clēowen, clīewen (“sphere, ball, skein; ball of thread or yarn; mass, group”), from Proto-Germanic *kliuwīną, *klewô (“ball, bale”), from Proto-Indo-European *glew- (“to amass, conglomerate; clump, ball, bale”). Sense evolution with reference to the one which the mythical Theseus used to guide him out of the Minotaur's labyrinth. More at clew.
Pronunciation
Noun
clue (plural clues)
- (now rare) A strand of yarn etc. as used to guide one through a labyrinth; something which points the way, a guide.
- 1897, Henry James, What Maisie Knew:
- she had even had in the past a small smug conviction that in the domestic labyrinth she always kept the clue.
- 1897, Henry James, What Maisie Knew:
- Information which may lead one to a certain point or conclusion.
- An object or a kind of indication which may be used as evidence.
- (slang) Insight or understanding ("to have a clue [about]" or "to have clue". See have a clue, clue stick)
Synonyms
- (information which may lead one to a certain point or conclusion): hint, indication, suggestion
- (object or indication which may be used as evidence): signature
- (understanding): idea
Derived terms
Terms derived from the noun "clue"
Translations
information that may lead one to a certain point or conclusion
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object or marking that may be used in evidence
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
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See also
Verb
clue (third-person singular simple present clues, present participle cluing or clueing, simple past and past participle clued)
- To provide with a clue.
- The crossword compiler wasn't sure how to clue the word "should".
- To provide someone with information which he or she lacks (often used with "in" or "up").
- Smith, clue Jones in on what's been happening.
Derived terms
Translations
to provide with a clue
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to provide with information
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Anagrams
Latin
Verb
(deprecated template usage) cluē
Middle English
Noun
clue
- Alternative form of clewe
Categories:
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms inherited from Old English
- English terms derived from Old English
- English terms inherited from Proto-Germanic
- English terms derived from Proto-Germanic
- English terms inherited from Proto-Indo-European
- English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European
- English 1-syllable words
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- Rhymes:English/uː
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