Finesentence mobile logo
Sign in Login / Register

Belled Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

🔔
Add to dictionary

belled

[bɛld ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

past tense

Belled is the past tense of the verb 'bell,' which means to put a bell on something or to sound a bell. This term can be used in various contexts, such as indicating that an animal has been fitted with a bell. It can also refer metaphorically to raising an alert or signaling. The action of belled might suggest a change in behavior or status, often announcing something significant.

Synonyms

peal, ring, toll.

Examples of usage

  • The farmer belled the cat to keep track of it.
  • She belled the alert to warn the townsfolk.
  • The dog was belled to avoid losing it in the forest.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Cultural Significance

  • In many traditions, bells are rung during weddings and significant events, symbolizing joy and celebration.
  • Bells have played an important role in religious practices, often calling people to worship or marking important moments.
  • In some cultures, a 'belled' collar on animals is believed to ward off evil spirits or bad luck.

Science

  • The sound produced by bells is a fundamental study in acoustics, with various shapes affecting sound quality and pitch.
  • Large bells like those in churches create a phenomenon called resonance, which can be felt as well as heard.
  • Research has shown that the frequency of the sound waves from a bell can influence how we perceive its tone and volume.

Literature

  • Bells often appear as symbols in poetry, representing everything from joy to warning.
  • In classic literature, characters or narratives might be described in relation to bell sounds to evoke emotions or themes.
  • Famous literary works, such as Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Bells', explore the varying meanings bells hold through their sounds.

Art

  • Bell shapes have inspired numerous designs in architecture, often symbolizing harmony and balance.
  • In visual arts, bell imagery is used to convey messages of hope or alertness, often depicted in paintings and sculptures.
  • Bells appear prominently in modern art installations, reflecting their cultural and historical significance.

Origin of 'belled'

Main points about word origin

  • The word 'bell' comes from the Old English 'belle' which relates to the sound it makes.
  • In many cultures, bells have been used for signaling, celebrations, and keeping track of time.
  • The 'belling' process in music refers to the resonance created by bell-shaped instruments like cymbals or gongs.

The word 'bell' dates back to Middle English 'belle', which derived from Old English 'beall', meaning an instrument for producing a ringing sound. The concept of attaching a bell to an object goes back to ancient times, symbolizing alerts, registration, and presence. The verb form 'to bell' emerged as the action of fitting or setting a bell, reflecting human efforts to communicate or indicate various states of being through sound. Over time, linguistic evolution and regional dialects contributed to the adaptability of the word in various contexts, extending its usage into metaphorical realms, such as signaling an event or change.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,256, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.