KNELLING

Verb

knelling

present participle of knell

Noun

knelling (plural knellings)

The tolling of a bell.

Source: Wiktionary


KNELL

Knell, n. Etym: [OE. knel, cnul, AS. cnyll, fr. cnyllan to sound a bell; cf. D. & G. knallen to clap, crack, G. & Sw. knall a clap, crack, loud sound, Dan. knalde to clap, crack. Cf. Knoll, n. & v.]

Definition: The stoke of a bell tolled at a funeral or at the death of a person; a death signal; a passing bell; hence, figuratively, a warning of, or a sound indicating, the passing away of anything. The dead man's knell Is there scarce asked for who. Shak. The curfew tolls the knell of parting day. Gray.

Knell, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Knelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Knelling.] Etym: [OE. knellen, knillen, As. cnyllan. See Knell, n.]

Definition: To sound as a knell; especially, to toll at a death or funeral; hence, to sound as a warning or evil omen. Not worth a blessing nor a bell to knell for thee. Beau. & Fl. Yet all that poets sing, and grief hath known, Of hopes laid waste, knells in that word, "alone". Ld. Lytton.

Knell, v. t.

Definition: To summon, as by a knell. Each matin bell, the baron saith, Knells us back to a world of death. Coleridge.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

7 February 2025

STORY

(noun) a piece of fiction that narrates a chain of related events; “he writes stories for the magazines”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

The word “coffee” entered the English language in 1582 via the Dutch “koffie,” borrowed from the Ottoman Turkish “kahve,” borrowed in turn from the Arabic “qahwah.” The Arabic word qahwah was traditionally held to refer to a type of wine.

coffee icon