What does "rune" mean?
A letter, or character, used in the written language of various ancient Germanic peoples, especially the Scandinavians and the Anglo-Saxons.
Rune
/ɹuːn/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A letter, or character, used in the written language of various ancient Germanic peoples, especially the Scandinavians and the Anglo-Saxons.
- Grammar: rune is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: alchemy, arrowhead, bewitchery, character.
- Useful contrasts: latin letter, modern letter, nondecorative motif.
- Usage evidence: The runologist couldn't figure out what the final rune was meant to symbolize.
How to use "rune"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "rune" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "rune" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "rune" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "rune" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "rune" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "alchemy" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "rune", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A letter, or character, used in the written language of various ancient Germanic peoples, especially the Scandinavians and the Anglo-Saxons.
"Yet they made for man those mystic swords of superhuman workmanship engraved with magic runes and dipped when red hot in blood or in a broth of poisonous herbs and twigs."
- 2 any character from an ancient Germanic alphabet used in Scandinavia from the 3rd century to the Middle Ages wordnet
- 3 Any visually similar script, such as Hungarian runes (the Old Hungarian script) or Turkic runes (the Old Turkic script).
- 4 A Finnic or Scandinavian epic poem, or a division of one, especially a division of the Kalevala.
- 5 A letter or mark used as a mystical or magic symbol.
"And the sword that had visited Earth from so far away smote like the falling of thunderbolts [...] and the runes in Alveric’s far-travelled sword exulted, and roared at the elf-knight; until in the dark of the wood, amongst branches severed from disenchanted trees, with a blow like that of a thunderbolt riving an oak-tree, Alveric slew him."
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 A verse or song, especially one with mystical or mysterious overtones; a spell or an incantation.
"Where the daylight peeps thro' like the glint of the Moon, / And the branches are rustling a murmurous rune, / The Owls sit in council like prophets of Fate, / Discussing grave questions of Kingdom and State."
- 7 Alternative form of roun (“secret or mystery”). alt-of, alternative, obsolete
- 8 A Unicode code point.
"Go language defines the type rune as an alias for the type int32 to represent a Unicode code point. A string in Go is a sequence of runes."
Verb
- 1 To compose or perform poetry or songs. dated, intransitive, poetic
Antonyms
latin lettermodern letternondecorative motifnonmagical mark
Example
"The runologist couldn't figure out what the final rune was meant to symbolize."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "rune"?
Common synonyms include: alchemy, arrowhead, bewitchery, character, character, charm.
How do you use "rune" in a sentence?
The runologist couldn't figure out what the final rune was meant to symbolize.
How do you pronounce "rune"?
Pronounced /ɹuːn/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Old Norse rún, which is from Proto-Germanic *rūnō (“letter, literature, secret”), which is borrowed either from Proto-Celtic *rūnā or from the same source as it; compare Dutch rune, German Rune, Raune, Danish rune and Swedish runa. Compare roun. ; Finnic epic poem ; "code point"