knell

knell

Pronunciation: ⁄nɛl⁄

noun

[in singular]

·              the sound of a bell, especially when rung solemnly for a death or funeral.

·    used in reference to an announcement, event, or sound that warns of the end of something:emails and text messages are sounding the knell for the written word

verb

[no object]

·              (of a bell) ring solemnly, especially for a death or funeral.

·    [with object] proclaim (something) by or as if by a knell.