telling

This word carries a strong sense of revelation. When used as an adjective, it describes a detail that acts as a clue or a giveaway, exposing a character trait or a secret that the person might be trying to hide. It suggests that a small observation provides a large amount of insight into the truth of a situation. In its verbal form, it is the primary tool for narrative transmission. It implies a directed flow of information from a source to a recipient, whether that information is a factual report, a fictional story, or a command.