Knew kneck and knife knickknots

• kneck: (nautical) the twisting of a rope or cable, as it is running out
• knickknack: a small ornament of minor value
• neck-and-neck: exactly even in a race
• nick: a small cut
• knife
• knots
• new neck and knife in the passage of time a "new" tyrant assassination (neck and knife) knicks (a tally of days) another knot marking the passage of time through the cycles of history. That new is "knew" implies some awareness or consciousness of this process.