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Added 9 October 2026

runner

/ˈɹʌnɚ/ noun

In Latin: cursor Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about runner at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Someone who imports or exports without paying duties.
Someone who travels on foot by running.
A person who is employed to deliver messages or documents.
he sent a runner over with the contract

Origin

From Middle English rennere, rynner, urnare, equivalent to run + -er. Cognate with Old Norse rennari (“runner; messenger”). Displaced earlier Middle English runel (“runner”), from Old English rynel (“runner”; also “messenger, courier”). ((botany) a long stolon sent by a plant): Compare typologically Russian побе́г (pobég) (akin to бежа́ть (bežátʹ)).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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