Clue (information)

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Look up clue in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Look up hint in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

A clue or a hint is a piece of information bringing someone closer to a conclusion.^[1] It is revealed either because it is discovered by someone who needs it or because it is shared (given) by someone else.

The word originally was an alternate of spelling of clew, which was defined as "a ball of thread". The word evolved to have its current meaning in part because of the common motif in mythology and folklore of using a ball of thread to aid in escaping a maze.^[2]

In some games, if a player is stuck on a puzzle or riddle, they can ask or pay for clues to help them progress in the game.

In some games, clues are an integral ludeme of the game mechanics, whereas in others they are considered cheats.

Clues in games can either be given straight, be cryptic, be riddles, or contain contradictions.

When a reader encounters an unknown word or phrase in a text, context clues are anything in the text that helps them understand or guess the meaning of it. It can be synonyms, antonyms, explanations, examples, or familiar word-parts (prefix or suffix).^[3] It can be definitions, comparisons, or contrasts.^[4] Meaning can also be derived via descriptions of cause and effect or through inference.^[5]