August 6, 2007

O.E.D. vocabulary resounds

Peal, v.

To sound forth in a peal; to resound.
1910, H. H. Richardson (pseudonym of Edith F. L. Robertson) - "A great bell clanged through the house, pealing on and on, long after one's ears were rasped by the din."

To sound (something) forth in a peal, to produce (a sound, etc.) with loud reverberation; to utter or proclaim loudly and sonorously. Freq. with out.
1887, translation of Virgil - "Loud thunder is pealed from the skies."

To cause (a bell, etc.) to sound loudly; to ring (a bell) in peals.
1904, Henry James - "You keep pealing all the bells to drown my voice."

To assail (the ears, or a person) with loud noise, clamour, etc.
1641, Milton - "They...never lin pealing our eares that unlesse we fat them like boores"

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