Clue (information)
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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.
Etymology
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]
Clues in games
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.
Context clues
I don't understand enigmas. I never could guess a riddle in my life.
Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre (1847) chapter XIX, an example of the words "enigma" and "riddle" providing context clue.
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]
A 1966 study identified fourteen types of context clues for native speakers.[6] A 1971 study classified clues for second language readers into three categories: intra-lingual, inter-lingual and extra-lingual.[6]
References
- ^ "Clue Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
- ^ "Definition of CLUE". www.merriam-webster.com. 2024-01-26. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
- ^ "What Are Context Clues?", dictionary.com, 15 August 2022.
- ^ Richard Nordquist. "Definition and Examples of Context Clues", thoughtco.com, 31 July 2024.
- ^ Matt Ellis. "What Are Context Clues? A Guide to Identifying and Using Them", grammarly.com, 7 December 2023.
- ^ a b Zhaochun Yin. "Infer the Meaning of Unknown Words by Sheer Guess or by Clues? –An Exploration on the Clue Use in Chinese EFL Learner's Lexical Inferencing", English Language Teaching; Vol. 6, No. 11; 2013.