runic

[ roo-nik ]

adjective

1. consisting of or set down in runes: rune:

   runic inscriptions.

2. having some secret or mysterious meaning:

   runic rhyme.

3. (of ornamental knots, figures, etc.) of an interlaced form seen on ancient monuments, metalwork, etc., of the northern European peoples.
4. of the ancient Scandinavian class or type, as literature or poetry.

Word History and Origins

Origin of runic¹

First recorded in 1655–65; rune ¹ + -ic

Example Sentences

“It’s one of the best executed runic inscriptions that I have ever seen,” Imer said.

From Seattle Times

The earliest runic find is on a bone comb found in Denmark.

From Seattle Times

He remembers one arrangement, a soiled onesie on a chessboard mat splashed with runic handwriting.

From New York Times

The logo for the technology is designed from the Scandinavian runic letters for the king’s initials, HB.

From Seattle Times

Not just because their staves swirl into dizzying spirals, assume runic shapes and radiate from the center of the page like sound itself, but because of their hand-hewn humanity.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• eerie
• enchanted
• enchanting
• extraordinary
• fascinating
• magic
• marvelous
• miraculous
• mysterious
• mythical
• otherworldly
• spellbinding
• spooky
• uncanny
• unusual
• weird
• wonderful