Final answer:
In the poem 'Meditation XVII' by John Donne, the phrase 'send to know' is used to refer to finding out whose funeral the bell is tolling for. However, Donne suggests that the tolling bell is a reminder of our shared humanity and mortality.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a person says 'send to know' for whom a funeral bell is tolling, they are essentially asking to find out who has died and whose funeral is taking place. This phrase comes from a famous poem by John Donne called 'Meditation XVII.' In the poem, Donne reflects on the interconnectedness of humanity and says that when a funeral bell tolls, it is a reminder that the death of any person affects us all. So, rather than asking who the funeral is for, Donne suggests that we should realize that the tolling bell is a reminder of our shared humanity and our own mortality.
Learn more about the meaning of the phrase 'send to know' in John Donne's poem 'Meditation XVII'