English Explanatory Dictionary

rune

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A letter, or character, used in the written language of various ancient Germanic peoples, especially the Scandinavians and the Anglo-Saxons.
  2. Any visually similar script, such as Hungarian runes (the Old Hungarian script) or Turkic runes (the Old Turkic script).
  3. A Finnic or Scandinavian epic poem, or a division of one, especially a division of the Kalevala.
  4. A letter or mark used as a mystical or magic symbol.
  5. A verse or song, especially one with mystical or mysterious overtones; a spell or an incantation.
  6. Alternative form of roun (“secret or mystery”).
  7. A Unicode code point.
verb
  1. To compose or perform poetry or songs.

Pronunciation

ro͞on /ɹuːn/ En-us-rune.ogg

Word forms

rune runes runing runed

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Celtic *rūnābor.? Proto-Germanic *rūnō Proto-Germanic *rūnǭ Proto-Norse ᚱᚢᚾᛟ (runo) Old Norse rúnbor. English rune Borrowed from Old Norse rún, which is from Proto-Germanic *rūnō (“letter, literature, secret”), which is borrowed either from Proto-Celtic *rūnā or from the same source as it; compare Dutch rune, German Rune, Raune, Danish rune and Swedish runa. Compare roun. ; Finnic epic poem ; "code point"

Synonyms

enchantment hex cantrip chantment charm craft dwimmer incantation magic magic spell makutu mojo obeah pishogue rune spell spellword wanga

Derived words

bind rune bind-rune moonrune moon rune moonrunes rune bag rune book runecarver runecast runecaster runecasting rune cloth runecraft runed runeless runelike runelore runemaster runemistress rune poem rune-rister rune-risting runesmith runesong rune spread runestaff runestave runester runestone runework runic runically runiform runish runographic runologist runology twig rune
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