GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 2 definitions

1.       
   death knell, n.
   1. A stroke or tolling of a bell, announcing a death; a knell1.
   
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   2. Hence: (figuratively) A sign or harbinger of the end, death, or passing away of anything.
   
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2.       
   Knell (?), n. [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.] The stroke of a bell tolled at a funeral or at the death of a person; a death signal; a passing bell; hence, (figuratively), a warning or harbinger of, or a sound indicating, the passing away of anything; -- also called death knell.
   
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   The dead man's knell
   
   Is there scarce asked for who. Shak.
   
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   The curfew tolls the knell of parting day. Gray.
   
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