A legendary magical root or humanoid figure from Germanic folklore, often depicted as a small human-shaped being with magical powers.
From Old High German, related to Old Saxon 'alruna.' The word connects to Germanic rune magic traditions and may relate to an ancient root meaning 'secret' or 'mystery,' later evolving into folklore legends.
The alraun legend influenced Shakespeare and many European writers—it's the ancestor of the modern 'mandrake root' magical object in fiction, showing how medieval Germanic folklore shaped Western fantasy.
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