rune

/run/

/run/

Other forms: runes

A rune is a letter used in early Germanic writing. A linguist might be interested in runes because they're evidence of ancient languages, while a mystic might use runes, believed by some to have magical properties, in fortune-telling.

Runes were part of several alphabets used between the 3rd and 13th centuries. If someone offers to "read" your runes, they're referring to stones carved with symbols based on ancient runes, used to divine your future. You might also see references to runes in fantasy novels. The Old English root run means "secret or mystery."

Definitions of rune

1. noun

   any character from an ancient Germanic alphabet used in Scandinavia from the 3rd century to the Middle Ages
   “each rune had its own magical significance”

   synonyms: runic letter

   types:

   thorn

   a Germanic character of runic origin

   type of:

   character, grapheme, graphic symbol

   a written symbol that is used to represent speech