The spelling clue became standard for the figurative sense while clew remained literal.
CANONICAL RELATIONSHIP RECORD
COVERAGE LEDGER ↗EDGE / 0021semantic specializationestablished
A CLAIM
YOU CAN AUDIT.
A relationship—not a generated explanation. Both endpoints, every editorial field, every citation, and every dossier reuse are preserved below.
clue
a fact that guides a solution
OPEN NODE 25 ↗DESCENDS FROM→
PARENT / EARLIER FORM / attestedMiddle English · c. 1300–1600sclew
a ball of thread or yarn
OPEN NODE 26 ↗01
THE COMPLETE RELATIONSHIP
EVERY FIELD, NOT A FAIRY TALE
A guiding thread became a fact that guides reasoning.
No separate chronology note is attached beyond the endpoint date ranges.
OED editors
established — no additional confidence note is attached.
reviewed
02
CITATION REGISTER
SOURCES ON THIS EDGE
Clue — Word HistoryWord History
supportsAUDIT SOURCE ↗ORIGINAL ↗Oxford English Dictionary: clue, n.Historical senses
supportsAUDIT SOURCE ↗ORIGINAL ↗Documents figurative development.
03
EDITORIAL REUSE