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Knell

 - 8 dictionary results

knell

  [nel]
Use Knell in a Sentence
–noun
1. the sound made by a bell rung slowly, esp. for a death or a funeral.
2. a sound or sign announcing the death of a person or the end, extinction, failure, etc., of something: the knell of parting day.
3. any mournful sound.
–verb (used without object)
4. to sound, as a bell, esp. a funeral bell.
5. to give forth a mournful, ominous, or warning sound.
–verb (used with object)
6. to proclaim or summon by, or as if by, a bell.
Origin:
bef. 950; (n.) ME knel, OE cynll; (v.) ME knellen, knyllen, OE cynllan; c. ON knylla to beat, strike; akin to D knal bang, knallen to bang, G Knall explosion, knallen to explode
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Knell
knell   (něl)   
v.   knelled, knell·ing, knells

v.   intr.

  1. To ring slowly and solemnly, especially for a funeral; toll.

  2. To give forth a mournful or ominous sound.

v.   tr.
To signal, summon, or proclaim by tolling.
n.  

  1. The sound of a bell knelling; a toll.

  2. A signal of disaster or destruction.


[Middle English knellen, from Old English cnyllan.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Main Entry:  knell1
Part of Speech:  n
Definition:  a bell struck slowly and solemnly; this ominous sound
Etymology:  Old English cnyllan
Main Entry:  knell1
Part of Speech:  v
Definition:  to summon or announce with a bell; toll
Etymology:  Old English cnyllan
Usage:  transitive
Main Entry:  knell2
Part of Speech:  n
Definition:  an indication of failure
Etymology:  Old English cnyllan
Main Entry:  knell2
Part of Speech:  v
Definition:  to ring slowly and solemnly; to make an ominous sound
Etymology:  Old English cnyllan
Usage:  transitive
Dictionary.com's 21st Century Lexicon
Copyright © 2003-2009 Dictionary.com, LLC
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Word Origin & History

knell  (n.)
O.E. cnyll "sound made by a bell when struck or rung slowly," of imitative origin. Cf. M.H.G. erknellen "to resound," O.E. cnyllan. The Welsh cnull "death-bell" appears to be a borrowing from Eng. For vowel evolution, see bury.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

knell

see death knell.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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