any of the characters of an alphabet probably derived from Latin and Greek and used in medieval times, esp in carved inscriptions, by the Germanic peoples
a magical or cryptic utterance or inscription
runic /ʹroohnik/ adj
[orig from Old English rūn mystery, runic character, writing, becoming obsolete in the Middle English period. Reintroduced in the 17th cent. from Old Norse rúnar hidden lore]