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knell

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The definition of a knell is a low and solemn ringing tone, or a bad omen.

(noun)

An example of a knell is a bell rung on the occasion of someone's death.
An example of a knell is an army losing a small battle thus making it nearly impossible to win a war.

To knell is defined as to ring something slowly and mournfully.

(verb)

An example of knell is to ring a bell when a national figure dies.

See knell in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb

to ring in a slow, solemn way; toll
to sound ominously or mournfully

Origin: ME knyllen & (with echoic vowel change) knellen < OE cnyllan, akin to MHG (er)knellen: prob. echoic

transitive verb

to call or announce by or as by a knell

noun

the sound of a bell, esp. of a bell rung slowly, as at a funeral
an omen of death, failure, etc.

See knell in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb knelled, knell·ing, knells

verb, intransitive

To ring slowly and solemnly, especially for a funeral; toll.
To give forth a mournful or ominous sound.

verb, transitive

To signal, summon, or proclaim by tolling.

noun

The sound of a bell knelling; a toll.
A signal of disaster or destruction.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English knellen

Origin: , from Old English cnyllan

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