run
/rʌn/
verb
Origin
Proto-Germanic
*rinnanan — to flow, run
Overview
Meaning Now
- To move at a speed faster than a walk, never having both or all feet on the ground at the same time.
- To be in charge of or manage an organization, business, or system.
- To function or operate, especially in a smooth or continuous way.
Literal older meaning
to flow, move quickly, or cause to move
Language path
Proto-Indo-European → Proto-Germanic → Old English → Modern English
Earliest form
rinnan
Earliest period
Old English period
Journey
The verb 'run' is of Germanic origin and originally signified fluid motion, such as water flowing. Its semantic expansion from liquid movement to human locomotion and then to metaphorical 'management' reflects a common shift in Germanic verbal structures.
Evolution
- Proto-Indo-European
*ren-
“to flow, run”
- Proto-Germanic
*rinnanan
“to flow, run”
- Old English
rinnan
“to flow, to run”
Strong verb, Class III
- Middle English
rennen
“to move quickly”
- Modern English
run
“to move at high speed; to manage”
Connections
Word parts
run
root
to flow or move rapidly
Related across languages
Old Saxon
rinnan
to run
Old High German
rinnan
to flow, run
Gothic
rinnan
to flow, to run
Explore next
Related to run
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.