Emily Dickinson Lexicon

kitchen (kitchen'd = 'kitchen would'), n. [OE cycene < L. coquěre, to cook.] (webplay: house).

Room for preparing and cooking meals; part of the house for cooking food.

knead, v. [OE cnedan.] (webplay: dough, hands).

Form; press; mix and work into a mass by folding with the hands; [fig.] rhythmically move; rock; control; handle; manipulate.

knee (-s), n. [OE cnéow. NW says word in OE signifies generation and means 'shoot or protuberance'.] (webplay: sides, two).

1. Joint between the thigh and lower leg.
2. [Fig.] attitude of supplication; worship; submission.
3. [Fig.] foothills; lower slopes; accessible places, suggesting familiarity or affection.

kneel (-ed, -ing, -s, knelt), v. [OE cnéowlian, see knee, n.] (webplay: knee, lay, say the Lord's Prayer).

1. Go down on the knees in reverence, worship, submission, and prayer.
2. [Fig.] express awe; show reverence for nature.
3. [Fig.] beg for attention, acceptance, or priority; humble oneself to a lower position.

knell, n. [OE cynll]

1. [Lit.] din; sound made by a bell when struck or rung; [fig.] memorial; signal of loss and grief; omen of death or approaching death.
2. [Fig.] pomp; ceremony; sensational show of grief.

knife, n. [OE cníf]

A cutting instrument with a sharp edge.

knight, n. [OE cniht, lad, servant, soldier.] (webplay: great, servants, six hundred, times).

[Lit.] soldier of courtly rank; man devoted to a lady; a lady's attendant, champion, and love; [fig.] male principle of universe; one member of a naturally occurring pair.

knit (-s), v. [OE cynttan < OE cnotta, knot.] (webplay: Nature can not knit the bones, sound).

1. Unite threads; loop strands of yarn together; interlace fibers into cohesive patterns.
2. Connect; join into a group; come together.
3. [Lit.] create marrow; restore oneself; regenerate cells, tissue, or bone; [fig.] exist and grow spiritually.
4. [Fig.] wear closely; fasten; attach; OED says Ploughman in Burns' Wks, “His garters knit below his knee.”

knitting, verbal n. [See knit, v.]

Formation of fabric made by looping yarn or thread into knots; [fig.] text; poetry.

knock, n. [see knock, v.] (webplay: door).

1. [Lit.] signal from someone at the door; rap on the door from someone who wants to gain admittance.
2. [Fig.] arrival; desire for entry.
3. [Fig.] initiation; petition; preparation; mark of respect.