The earliest record of time and tide wait for no man dates from 1225 and reads in modern English:
the tide abides for, tarrieth for no man, stays no man, tide nor time tarrieth no man
Meaning no one can command time. The same is true for identifiers.
What do you think “tide” means in the title? Ocean tide perhaps?
In the original phrase, “tide” meant a period of time. The identifier persisted, but its meaning changed.
Identifiers for subjects and their meanings change.
Topic maps can follow those changes. Can you?