vt to summon, as by a knell.
2. knell ·noun to sound as a knell; especially, to toll at a death or funeral; hence, to sound as a warning or evil omen.
3. knell ·noun 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.