knell

[ nel ]

/ nɛl /

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noun

the sound made by a bell rung slowly, especially for a death or a funeral.

a sound or sign announcing the death of a person or the end, extinction, failure, etc., of something: the knell of parting day.

any mournful sound.

verb (used without object)

to sound, as a bell, especially a funeral bell.

to give forth a mournful, ominous, or warning sound.

verb (used with object)

to proclaim or summon by, or as if by, a bell.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of knell

before 950; (noun) Middle English knel,Old English cynll; (v.) Middle English knellen, knyllen,Old English cynllan; cognate with Old Norse knylla to beat, strike; akin to Dutch knal bang, knallen to bang, German Knall explosion, knallen to explode

OTHER WORDS FROM knell

un·knelled, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use knell in a sentence

Blankets and heat lamps only offer so much warmth in the winter chill, and the move to 25% indoor dining capacity was a death knell to many on-edge businesses.
Restaurants, bars put creativity on the menu in 2020|Evan Caplan|December 30, 2020|Washington Blade
The model proved the existence of atoms and molecules, established their sizes, determined the incredible number of them in a grain of sand, and struck the death knell of Newtonian classical physics.
Time Flows Toward Order - Issue 93: Forerunners|Julian Barbour|December 2, 2020|Nautilus
At the beginning of the pandemic, being put on a ventilator was the death knell for thousands of people who were struggling with virus-related respiratory issues.
How the pandemic got people smoking again|Melinda Fakuade|November 12, 2020|Vox
Quibi’s demise is not the death knell for premium short-form video.
Quibi’s shutdown underscores economic challenge for big-budget, bite-sized shows|Tim Peterson|October 23, 2020|Digiday

Heavy Benson's tongue was knelling dinner as Richard arrived at the Abbey.
The Ordeal of Richard Feverel, Complete|George Meredith
Faintly out of the frosty air was wafted the knelling of midnight.
Memoirs of a Midget|Walter de la Mare
These are mournful, but somewhat hopeful strains; for one who feels that "time has long been knelling, sad one, depart!"
The Genius of Scotland|Robert Turnbull
And from far away we can hear a heavy knelling,—the booming of some great fog-bell.
Two Years in the French West Indies|Lafcadio Hearn
She hears the words knelling in her ears: "A guilty conscience needs no betrayer."
An Outcast|F. Colburn Adams

British Dictionary definitions for knell

knell

/ (nɛl) /

noun

the sound of a bell rung to announce a death or a funeral

something that precipitates or indicates death or destruction

verb

(intr) to ring a knell

(tr) to proclaim or announce by or as if by a tolling bell

Word Origin for knell

Old English cnyll; related to Middle High German knüllen to strike, Dutch knallen to bang

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with knell

knell

see death knell.

knell

Origin of knell

OTHER WORDS FROM knell

Words related to knell

How to use knell in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for knell

Word Origin for knell

Other Idioms and Phrases with knell