An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/raunen

by Friedrich Kluge

raunen, verb, from the equivalent Middle High German rûnen, Old High German rûnên, ‘to whisper, to utter in a low, soft tone,’ allied to Middle High German rûne, feminine, ‘whisper, secret conference.’ Corresponding to Old Low German rûnôn, Anglo-Saxon rûnian, English to roun (round), also Anglo-Saxon rûn, feminine, ‘secret deliberation, secret,’ Gothic rûna, feminine (see Alraune), ‘secret, secret resolution’; Old Icelandic rún, feminine, ‘secret, rune.’ It has also been compared further with the cognates, Greek ἐρευνάω, ‘to search, track,’ as well as with Irish rún, ‘secret.’