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more about clue
clue |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Clue \Clue\ (kl[=u]), n. [See {Clew}, n.] A ball of thread; a thread or other means of guidance. Same as {Clew}. You have wound a goodly clue. --Shak. This clue once found unravels all the rest. --Pope. Serve as clues to guide us into further knowledge. --Locke. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Clew \Clew\, Clue \Clue\, n. [OE. clewe, clowe, clue, AS cleowen cliwen clywe ball of thread; akin to D. kluwen OHG. chliwa chliuwa G. dim. kleuel kn["a]uel, and perch. to L. gluma hull, husk, Skr. glaus sort of ball or tumor. Perch. akin to E. claw. [root]26. Cf {Knawel}.] 1. A ball of thread, yarn, or cord; also The thread itself Untwisting his deceitful clew. --Spenser. 2. That which guides or directs one in anything of a doubtful or intricate nature; that which gives a hint in the solution of a mystery. The clew, without which it was perilous to enter the vast and intricate maze of countinental politics, was in his hands. --Macaulay. 3. (Naut.) (a.) A lower corner of a square sail, or the after corner of a fore-and-aft sail. (b.) A loop and thimbles at the corner of a sail. (c.) A combination of lines or nettles by which a hammock is suspended. {Clew garnet} (Naut.), one of the ropes by which the clews of the courses of square-rigged vessels are drawn up to the lower yards. {Clew line} (Naut.), a rope by which a clew of one of the smaller square sails, as topsail, topgallant sail, or royal, is run up to its yard. {Clew-line block} (Naut.), The block through which a clew line reeves. See Illust. of {Block}. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: clue n 1: a slight indication [syn: {hint}] 2: evidence that helps to solve a problem [syn: {clew}, {cue}] v : roll into a ball [syn: {clew}]
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