knell etymology

Etymology

The word "knell" comes from the Middle English word "knelle," which is itself derived from the Middle Dutch word "knel," meaning "sound of a bell."

Meaning

A knell is a deep, solemn sound made by a bell, typically used to announce a death or to call people to worship.

Origin

The use of bells to announce deaths or to call people to worship dates back to ancient times. In Christian tradition, bells have been used for these purposes since the early Middle Ages. The characteristic sound of a knell is created by ringing the bell slowly and evenly, with a pause between each stroke.

Usage

The word "knell" is often used in a figurative sense to indicate the approach of an end or to foretell a tragic event. For example, we might say that "the knell of doom has sounded" to indicate that a situation is beyond hope or that something terrible is about to happen.

knell relate terms

• bury

  Etymology The word bury derives from the Old English word byrgan which means to hid

• bridge

  Etymology The word bridge originates from the Old English word brycg which is deriv

• listen

  Etymology The word listen comes from the Middle English word listnen which in turn c

• sister

  Etymology Old English sweostor Proto Germanic swestr Proto Indo European swesor Mea

• merry

  Etymology Middle English mery from Old English myrige of unknown origin Meaning

• knell

  Etymology The word knell comes from the Middle English word knelle which is itself d

• blush

  Etymology The word blush comes from the Old English word blyscan which means to fla

• much

  Etymology The word etymology is derived from the Greek words étymon meaning true s

• church

  Etymology The English word church originates from the Old English word cirice which

• ring

  Etymology The word ring derives from the Old English word hring which is cognate wit

• mall

  Etymology The word mall is derived from the Latin word malleus which means hammer

• sound

  Etymology From Middle English sound from Old English sund from Proto Germanic sunðaz

• grin

  Etymology Old English grinnian to bare the teeth smile Proto Germanic grenjanan

• bell

  Etymology Old English belle a bell Proto Germanic bellu to ring Indo Europe

• toll

  Etymology The word toll comes from the Middle English word tol which in turn derive

• pale

  Etymology Old English pal adjective and palan verb Middle English pale adjec

• leap

  Etymology The word leap comes from the Old English word hleapan which means to jum

• peal

  Etymology The word peal comes from the Middle English word pelen meaning to make a

• plea

  Etymology The word plea is derived from the Old French word plaidier meaning to pl