knell
English
/nɛl/
verb
Definitions
- (intransitive) To ring a bell slowly, especially for a funeral; to toll.
- (transitive) To signal or proclaim something (especially a death) by ringing a bell.
- (transitive) To summon by, or as if by, ringing a bell.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English knellen inherited from Old English cnyllan (clap, strike, knock) inherited from Proto-Germanic *knuzlijaną (push, mash, beat) derived from Proto-Indo-European *gen- (pinch, squeeze, ball up, kink, ball, bend, press together, clench, concentrate).
Origin
Proto-Indo-European
*gen-
Gloss
pinch, squeeze, ball up, kink, ball, bend, press together, clench, concentrate
Concept
Semantic Field
Sense perception
Ontological Category
Action/Process
Kanji
玉