English Meaning & Definitions
The sound of a bell, especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral.
- “The slow, mournful knell of the church bell echoed across the quiet village.”
- “They heard the distant knell announcing the end of the day's services.”
An omen or indication of the death or failure of something.
- “The closure of the factory was the death knell for the town's economy.”
- “That unexpected election result proved to be the knell of the ruling party.”
To ring a bell, especially slowly and solemnly, to announce a death, funeral, or disaster.
- “The cathedral bells began to knell as the procession approached.”
- “The ominous church bells knelled throughout the afternoon.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “knell”.
From Middle English 'knellen' (to ring a bell), from Old English 'cnyllian'; of imitative origin related to Old High German 'knellan' (to resound) and Old Norse 'knell' (the stroke of a bell). Historically, church bells were rung to announce a death or funeral.
Think of a bell ringing 'ell' (hell) when someone dies: the death knell.
Frequently Asked Questions About “knell”
1. What is the meaning of “knell” in English?
In English, knell (noun) is defined as: “The sound of a bell, especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral.”.
2. How do you use “knell” in a sentence?
“The slow, mournful knell of the church bell echoed across the quiet village.”
3. What are English synonyms of “knell”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “knell”?
From Middle English 'knellen' (to ring a bell), from Old English 'cnyllian'; of imitative origin related to Old High German 'knellan' (to resound) and Old Norse 'knell' (the stroke of a bell). Historically, church bells were rung to announce a death or funeral.
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.