knell

[ nel ]

noun

1. the sound made by a bell rung slowly, especially 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)

1. to sound, as a bell, especially a funeral bell.
2. to give forth a mournful, ominous, or warning sound.

verb (used with object)

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

knell

/ nɛl /

noun

1. the sound of a bell rung to announce a death or a funeral
2. something that precipitates or indicates death or destruction

verb

1. intr to ring a knell
2. tr to proclaim or announce by or as if by a tolling bell

Other Words From

• un·knelled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of knell¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of knell¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

see death knell .

Example Sentences

The approval came over vehement objections from Supervisor Janice Hahn, who warned that the purchase would sound the death knell for downtown’s civic heart and shunt the county’s workforce to a “souless” office tower on Bunker Hill.

From Los Angeles Times

When Donald Trump lost to Joe Biden in 2020, it seemed to be the death knell of his political career.

From BBC

Liberal Democrat environment spokesman Tim Farron said of the changes to agricultural property inheritance tax relief: "This is a family farm tax which risks ringing the death knell for local farmers and the small businesses who rely on them."

From BBC

Flanagan went on to kill Stacy Knell and then take his own life.

From BBC

Ms Knell’s friends raised thousands of pounds to help pay for the funeral costs.

From BBC