rune [L17th] Before they became a favourite element in modern fantasy literature, runes were letters of the earliest Germanic alphabet, in use from at least the 2nd or 3rd century, based on the Greek and Roman alphabet adapted for carving on wood or stone. The word rune was introduced into English by Germanic scholars from the various similar forms in Scandinavian languages. This was a reintroduction, as there was an Old English word run, roun which had a range of meanings including ‘a secret or mystery, a runic letter, something written especially if it had a secret meaning, secret council, speech, incantation’. This is most probably the same word which had died out in Late Middle English and so needed to be reintroduced.