Main Entry: rune

Pronunciation: \ˈrün\

Function: noun

Etymology: Old Norse & Old English rūn mystery, runic character, writing; akin to Old High German rūna secret discussion, Old Irish rún mystery

Date: 1690

1 : any of the characters of any of several alphabets used by the Germanic peoples from about the 3d to the 13th centuries
2 : mystery, magic
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

[rune illustration]