 The feminine noun "*halja-rūnō(n)" is formed with "*haljō-" ('hell') attached to "*rūno" ('mystery, secret' > runes).It has descendant cognates in the Old English "helle-rúne" ('possessed woman, sorceress, diviner'), the Old High German "helli-rūna" ('magic'), and perhaps in the Latinized Gothic form "haliurunnae",' although its second element may derive instead from "rinnan" 'to run, go', leading to Gothic "*haljurunna" as the 'one who travels to the netherworld'.The neutral noun *"halja-wītjan" is composed of the same root "*haljō-" attached to *"wītjan" (compare with Goth.