runic

R1U1N1I1C3
/ˈɹuːnɪk/

adjective

Of, pertaining to, or written using runes.

OriginEnglish rune ← Old Norse rún ← Proto-Norse ᚱᚢᚾᛟ (runo) →
UncommonScrabble 7
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Meanings

runic1

adjectiverunic (not comparable)
  1. not comparableOf, pertaining to, or written using runes.
  2. not comparableOf a song or verse, mystically or obscurely expressed.

    Then flowered the mead, then leafed all 'Twas caused by the runic lay.

    1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume I, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 164

Runic2

proper noun
  1. nonstandardlaxAny of the ancient Germanic languages which were written using runes.

    So likewise a day comes when the Runic Thor, with his Eddas, must withdraw into dimness; and many an African Mumbo-Jumbo and Indian Pawpaw be utterly abolished.

    1831, Thomas Carlyle, “Symbols”, in Sartor Resartus: The Life and Opinions of Herr Teufelsdröckh. […], London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, 3rd book, page 155
adjective
  1. Alternative letter-case form of runic.

Origin

runic · adjective

  1. Proto-Celtic*rūnābor.?
  2. Proto-Germanic*rūnō
  3. Proto-Germanic*rūnǭ
  4. Proto-Norseᚱᚢᚾᛟ (runo)
  5. Old Norserún
  6. Englishrune
  7. Englishrunic

From rune + -ic.

Full word history & related roots →

Runic · proper noun, adjective

From rune + -ic, because such languages were written using runes.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan rúnic
  • rúnicof, pertaining to, or written using runes
Czech runový
  • runovýof, pertaining to, or written using runes
Finnish riimu-
  • riimu-of, pertaining to, or written using runes
French runique
  • runiqueof, pertaining to, or written using runes
German runisch
  • runischof, pertaining to, or written using runes
Greek ρουνικός
  • ρουνικός (rounikós)of, pertaining to, or written using runes
Italian runico
  • runicoof, pertaining to, or written using runes
Polish runiczny
  • runicznyof, pertaining to, or written using runes
Portuguese rúnico
  • rúnicoof, pertaining to, or written using runes
Russian руни́ческий
  • руни́ческий (runíčeskij)of, pertaining to, or written using runes
Scottish Gaelic rùnach
  • rùnachof, pertaining to, or written using runes
Spanish rúnico
  • rúnicoof, pertaining to, or written using runes
Turkish runik, rünik
  • runikof, pertaining to, or written using runes
  • rünikof, pertaining to, or written using runes

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with runic

Munichtunicsupertunic
All rhymes →

Anagrams

incur
Cite this entry
APA

runic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/runic

MLA

“runic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/runic. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “runic,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/runic.

Source: runic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.