▪ I. † roun Obs.
Forms: 1, 3–4 run, 2–4 rune, 3–5 roune, 4–5 roun, 5–6 rowne.
[Common Teut.: OE. r{uacu}n str. fem., = MDu. rune, ruun (ruen), whisper, secret counsel, etc., OS. rûna (MLG. rûne, rûn), OHG. rûna (MHG. rûne, G. raun, dial. rûn), ON. r{uacu}n, Goth. rûna (rendering Gr. µυστήριον, συµβούλιον, and βουλή). See also rune n.2
The normal modern spelling both of the n. and the related verb would have been rown; but the n. barely survived beyond ME., and the verb by developing a final d assumed the form round (round v.2).
The use of the word is largely poetic, and the precise sense intended is often very uncertain.]
1. A dark or mysterious saying; a secret or mystery.
| c 950 Lindisf. Gosp. John Intr. 4/4 æt uaelle Iacobes mið meniᵹum deᵹlum runum [he] spræc. a 1000 Elene 333 (Gr.), Ᵹehyrað, hiᵹegleawe, haliᵹe rune, word & wisdom. c 1200 Ormin 18786 Godess dærne rune Nass nohht tohh⁓wheþþre whilwendlic, Acc aȝȝ onn ane wise. a 1225 Leg. Kath. 1333 Crist..schawde..suteliche þe deopschipe & te derne run of his deað on rode. c 1400 Beryn 1529 Engrosid was the covenaunte be-twen hem bothe to, In presence of þe Emperour,—in opyn, & no roun. |
2. A runic letter, a rune.
| c 900 tr. Baeda's Hist. iv. xxii. (1890) 328 Se ᵹesiþ..hine ascode hwæðer he ða alysendlecan rune [L. litteras solutorias] cuðe. a 1000 Proverbs in Grein I. 349 Ræd sceal mon secᵹan, rune writan, leoþ ᵹesingan. c 1205 Lay. 3196 Þis writ com to Fraunce, to þan freo kinge. he hit lette raden, leof him weren þa runen [v.r. roune]. Ibid. 25340 Þan kaisere heo radden Þat he write runen [c 1275 writes makede]. |
3. That which is written; writing; a writing, a book, an epistle.
| a 1000 Daniel 542 (Gr.), Hæðen heriᵹes wisa..bæd him areccan, hwæt seo run bude. a 1000 Andreas 134 Hæfdon hie on rune & on rimcræfte awriten..wera endestæf. a 1300 Cursor M. 15230 Þan he tok þe bred and brack, Als it es redd in run. c 1320 Sir Tristr. 2040 Bi water he sent adoun Liȝt linden spon. He wrot hem al wiþ roun. |
4. Counsel, consultation, esp. of a private or secret nature.
| Beowulf 172 Moniᵹ oft ᵹesæt rice to rune, ræd eahtedon. a 1000 Wanderer 111 (Gr.), Swa cwæð snottor on mode, ᵹesæt him sundor æt rune. 1006 in Kemble Cod. Dipl. III. 351 Ic Siward cinges þeᵹen æt ræde and æt runan. c 1200 Ormin 6397 Þeȝȝ þa comenn to þe king, & he þeȝȝm droh to rune. a 1300 Cursor M. 3987 Thoru mi moder red and run, I stal him fra his benisun. c 1330 Arth. & Merl. 1218 (Kölbing), Yuel þe bifalle,..Þou hast yseyd to loude þi roun! |
5. A speech or discourse.
In early use with implication of secrecy (cf. sense 1). In the two latest quots. the meaning appears to be ‘popular talk or rumour, report’.
| c 1200 Moral Ode 89 (Trin. Coll. MS.), Elche rune he hereð and he wot alle dade. a 1250 Owl & Night. 1170 Dahet euer suich budel in tune, Þat euer bodeþ un-wreste rune, An euer bringeþ vuele tiþinge. 13.. K. Alis. 806 (W.), For he wolde, in schort roune, Alisaundre his sone croune. c 1320 Sir Tristr. 945 Þe ferþ ȝere, (a ferly roun!) Þre hundred barnes fre. a 1400–50 Alexander 244 A riall roune þou me redis, a reson of blis. c 1470 Harding Chron. cxviii. (MS. Douce 354 fol. 80 b), For whom þer was amonge the comonte A grete byworde, as fele on þe wondre and Roun As did vpon the Erle Edryke of Stractoun. 1567 Turberv. Epit. etc. 76 By reauing breath and rowne in worldly stage..Of him that well deserude..For worship and renowne to haue his share. |
b. A song; a cry or call.
| a 1310 in Wright Lyric P. vi. 29 Geynest under gore, herkne to my roune. Ibid. xiii. 43 Lenten ys come with love to toune, With blosmen ant with briddes roune. c 1320 Sir Tristr. 510 Þai blewen þe riȝt kinde And radde þe riȝt roun. a 1400 Lybeaus Disc. 1029 Sir Giffroun..Was bore hom on his scheld Wiþ care and rufull roun. |
6. A form of speech; a language.
| c 1205 Lay. 32000 Þa nomen of þan tunen on Sexisce runen. c 1330 R. Brunne Chron. Wace (Rolls) 13757 Egle ys ern on Englische roun. |
▪ II. roun
obs. f. round v.2; obs. pa. pple. of run v.