An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/raunen

by Friedrich Kluge

raunen, vb., from the equiv. MidHG. rûnen, OHG. rûnên, ‘to whisper, to utter in a low, soft tone,’ allied to MidHG. rûne, f., ‘whisper, secret conference.’ Corresponding to OLG. rûnôn, AS. rûnian, E. to roun (round), also AS. rûn, f., ‘secret deliberation, secret,’ Goth. rûna, f. (see Alraune), ‘secret, secret resolution’; OIc. rún, f., ‘secret, rune.’ It has also been compared further with the cognates, Gr. ἐρευνάω, ‘to search, track,’ as well as with Ir. rún, ‘secret.’