Definition of "death knell" [death• knell]

• The tolling of a bell announcing death. (noun)
• A sign or omen foretelling the death or destruction of something. (noun)

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• "That more or less sounded the death knell in the stories about the Boulevard Rochechouart affair."
• "In 1525, Zwingili sounded the death knell of the contemplative ideal of life when he said: “In things of this life, the laborer is most like to God.”"