RUNE • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Rune

Add this Dictionary
to your website!
See more options...

/run/ Listen

noun

Rune n.

A letter, or character, belonging to the written language of the ancient Norsemen, or Scandinavians; in a wider sense, applied to the letters of the ancient nations of Northern Europe in general. Note: The Norsemen had a peculiar alphabet, consisting of sixteen letters, or characters, called runes, the origin of which is lost in the remotest antiquity. The signification of the word rune (mystery) seems to allude to the fact that originally only a few were acquainted with the use of these marks, and that they were mostly applied to secret tricks, witchcrafts and enchantments. But the runes were also used in communication by writing.

pl. Old Norse poetry expressed in runes. "Runes were upon his tongue, As on the warrior's sword."

Rune stone, a stone bearing a runic inscription.

See images of 'Rune'

Etymology of 'Rune'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

Share |

"Rune" Quotes from Famous Books

... of the poem, wonderfully correct and conscientious as a translation, is inferior in poetical merit to that of Stephens, who, as we see, instead of choosing modern words, is careful to retain many of the picturesque old rune equivalents. This we perceive at once if we compare Stephens' four lines, beginning "Christ was on ...

— Studies from Court and Cloister • J.M. Stone

... birds, The lowing of cattle Must blend with the words. Without these, indeed, you Would find it ere long, As though I should read you The words of a song That lamely would linger When lacking the rune, The voice of the singer, The ...

— The Man from Snowy River • Andrew Barton 'Banjo' Paterson

... set forth in the Edda that Cold may be overcome by a magic spell. Thus Groa (Grougaldr, 12) promises her son a rune to effect this:— ...

— The Algonquin Legends of New England • Charles Godfrey Leland

... Cap'n Butts! Gen'le gen'lemen! would ye rune a pore widdy woman by a singing of sech filthy tunes? And me up for my license again ...

— The Scarlet Stigma - A Drama in Four Acts • James Edgar Smith

... training- school of old Fraser! but enough of the old tyrant and his slaves. Belle, prepare tea this moment, or dread my anger. I have not a gold-headed cane like old Fraser of Lovat, but I have, what some people would dread much more, an Armenian rune-stick." ...

— The Romany Rye - A Sequel to 'Lavengro' • George Borrow

More quotes...