[knell] vb [ME, fr. OE cnyllan; akin to MHG erknellen to toll] vt (bef. 12c): to summon or announce by or as if by a knell ~ vi 1: to ring esp. for a death, funeral, or disaster: toll
2: to sound in an ominous manner or with an ominous effect
[2]knell n (bef. 12c) 1: a stroke or sound of a bell esp. when rung slowly (as for a death, funeral, or disaster)
2: an indication of the end or the failure of something "sounded the death ~ for our hopes"