Illustration of rune
- Anglo-Saxon runic alphabet
1
: any of the characters of any of several alphabets used by the Germanic peoples from about the 3rd to the 13th centuries
Examples of rune in a Sentence
wrote many mournful runes after her lover's untimely death
Recent Examples on the Web
Bermudez and Craven saw runes in Iceland, beaches in French Polynesia and temples in Peru.
—
Renée Reizman, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2023
Alongside the theatre’s Greek Revival architecture, the Loverboy Red Coats combine Mark Rothko’s lyrical application of the color red with Anglo-Saxon runes relating to service and help.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 14 Sep. 2023
Splashes of color, bubbles, tubes, machinery, and glowing rocks covered with runes flow across the room in response to what the telescope has found.
—Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2023
Gotham People love to read the runes of a private relationship on the most inconsequential of ephemera, and the internet has given a new lens through which all pop cultural phenomena can be ruthlessly examined.
—Daniel Rodgers, Glamour, 7 Sep. 2023
Schultz wears a necklace with the Viking rune Uruz, another reminder of his journey in the past year.
—Dave Melton, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2023
With runes on her face, the color of her hair and all these rituals, Mavka is a new heroine.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 12 June 2023
There is speculation that the rune could be for a person buried in the grave, according to Science Norway, especially since the excavation also revealed bones and charcoal.
—Devika Rao, The Week, 17 Jan. 2023
The shape of the platform drew condemnation on social media for its resemblance to the Odal rune, a symbol adopted by the Nazis during Adolf Hitler's rule in Germany.
—Jake Dima, Washington Examiner, 1 Mar. 2021
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Renée Reizman, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2023
Alongside the theatre’s Greek Revival architecture, the Loverboy Red Coats combine Mark Rothko’s lyrical application of the color red with Anglo-Saxon runes relating to service and help.
—Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 14 Sep. 2023
Splashes of color, bubbles, tubes, machinery, and glowing rocks covered with runes flow across the room in response to what the telescope has found.
—Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2023
Gotham People love to read the runes of a private relationship on the most inconsequential of ephemera, and the internet has given a new lens through which all pop cultural phenomena can be ruthlessly examined.
—Daniel Rodgers, Glamour, 7 Sep. 2023
Schultz wears a necklace with the Viking rune Uruz, another reminder of his journey in the past year.
—Dave Melton, Chicago Tribune, 25 July 2023
With runes on her face, the color of her hair and all these rituals, Mavka is a new heroine.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 12 June 2023
There is speculation that the rune could be for a person buried in the grave, according to Science Norway, especially since the excavation also revealed bones and charcoal.
—Devika Rao, The Week, 17 Jan. 2023
The shape of the platform drew condemnation on social media for its resemblance to the Odal rune, a symbol adopted by the Nazis during Adolf Hitler's rule in Germany.
—Jake Dima, Washington Examiner, 1 Mar. 2021
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rune.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Old Norse & Old English rūn mystery, runic character, writing; akin to Old High German rūna secret discussion, Old Irish rún mystery
First Known Use
1676, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near rune
Cite this Entry
“Rune.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rune. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on rune
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rune
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