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 study also warned that AI’s power to store data might sound the death knell for the culture around traditional music.

From BBC

But Superior Court Judge Deborah Servino curtailed that line of evidence, which the Andersons saw as the death knell for their case.

From Los Angeles Times

"Frankly, if they do this, it will be the death knell of the pub," Mr Farage added.

From BBC

The incoming heat could also be the death knell for the remainder of the state’s snowpack, which has dwindled to about 44% of normal for this time of year after peaking in April.

From Los Angeles Times

Then habitat loss and poorly managed grazing in Eryri were the final death knell for the plant.

From BBC