rune
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.rune
noun \ˈrün\Definition of RUNE
1
: any of the characters of any of several alphabets used by the Germanic peoples from about the 3d to the 13th centuries
3
[Finnish runo, of Germanic origin; akin to Old Norse rūn] a : a Finnish or Old Norse poem b : poem, song
— ru·nic \ˈrü-nik\ adjective
See Examples of RUNE
- <wrote many mournful runes after her lover's untimely death>
Illustration of RUNE
Origin of RUNE
Old Norse & Old English rūn mystery, runic character, writing; akin to Old High German rūna secret discussion, Old Irish rún mystery
First Known Use: 1690
rune
noun (Concise Encyclopedia)Any of the characters within an early Germanic writing system. The runic alphabet, also called futhark, is attested in northern Europe, Britain, Scandinavia, and Iceland from about the 3rd century to the 16th or 17th century AD. The Goths may have developed it from the Etruscan alphabet of northern Italy. More than 4,000 runic inscriptions and several runic manuscripts are extant. Approximately 2,500 of these come from Sweden, the remainder being from Norway, Denmark, Britain, Iceland, and various islands off the coast of Britain and Scandinavia, as well as France, Germany, Ukraine, and Russia.
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