Knell

Pronunciation: /nɛl/

Definitions of knell

noun a sound made by a bell, especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral

Example Sentences

A1 The knell of the church bell signaled the end of the wedding ceremony.

A2 The loud knell of the alarm clock woke me up in the morning.

B1 The knell of layoffs could be heard throughout the company as the economy took a downturn.

B2 The knell of war echoed through the city as the sound of explosions grew louder.

C1 The knell of the death toll in the aftermath of the natural disaster was heartbreaking.

C2 The knell of the final whistle marked the end of the intense championship game.

Examples of knell in a Sentence

formal The tolling of the knell signaled the end of the funeral service.

informal The sound of the knell echoed through the quiet village.

slang I could feel the knell of impending doom hanging over us.

figurative The closing of the factory was the knell of the town's economy.

Grammatical Forms of knell

• past tense: knelled
• plural: knells
• comparative: more knell
• superlative: most knell
• present tense: knells
• future tense: will knell
• perfect tense: have knelled
• continuous tense: is knelling
• singular: knell
• positive degree: knell
• infinitive: to knell
• gerund: knelling
• participle: knelling

Origin and Evolution of knell

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'knell' originated from the Old English word 'cnyll' or 'cnyllan', which meant to sound a bell or toll a bell.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'knell' evolved to refer specifically to the solemn sound of a bell tolling, often for a funeral or other somber occasion.