Rune

rōōn, n. one of the characters or letters used by the peoples of northern Europe down to the 16th century: ( pl. ) the ancient Scand in avian alphabet or futhorc —from its first six letters f , u , th , o , r , c (the writing is called Runic , the individual letters Rune-staves , or le correctly Runes ): a secret, a mystic sentence: any song mystically expre ed.— n. Rune′craft .— adj. Runed .— n. Ru′ner .— adj. Ru′nic , relating to runes, to the ancient Teutonic nations, or to their characters.— ns. Runol′ogist , one versed in Runic remains; Runol′ogy .— Runic knots , a form of interlaced ornament. [A.S. rún , a secret. The word is found in M. E. rounen , to whisper, and is cog. with Old High Ger. run a , a secret, Goth. run a , secret.]