acrostic

American  

[uh-kraw-stik, uh-kros-tik] / əˈkrɔ stɪk, əˈkrɒs tɪk /

noun

1. a series of lines or verses in which the first, last, or other particular letters when taken in order spell out a word, phrase, etc.

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adjective

1. Also acrostical of, like, or forming an acrostic.

acrostic British  

/ əˈkrɒstɪk /

noun

1. 1. a number of lines of writing, such as a poem, certain letters of which form a word, proverb, etc. A single acrostic is formed by the initial letters of the lines, a double acrostic by the initial and final letters, and a triple acrostic by the initial, middle, and final letters

   2. the word, proverb, etc, so formed

   3. ( as modifier )

      an acrostic sonnet

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Usage

What is an acrostic? An acrostic is a series of lines of writing or verses of poetry in which certain letters can be read from a word or phrase. Here is an example of an acrostic in which the first letter of each word creates another word (dogs):DependableObedientGood FriendsSmartAn acrostic doesn’t have to use the letters of the first words of a line, however. The letters could be from words in the middle or at the end of lines, as well. The letters of the “hidden message” are typically capitalized (food):Made FreshHealthy OnlyDouble OrderTastes DeliciousThere are three types of acrostics. An acrostic that uses the initial letters is called a single acrostic (cat):CuriousAttentiveTenaciousAn acrostic that uses the first and last letters of a line is called a double acrostic (bird song):Beautiful chirping soundsI love the audioRelaxes my brainDelightful listeningA triple acrostic uses the first letter, last letter, and a middle letter to form words. The adjective form of acrostic is acrostical, as in The poem was acrostical.

Other Word Forms

• acrostically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of acrostic

1580–90; < Greek akrostichís, equivalent to akro- acro- + stích ( os ) stich ¹ + -is noun suffix

Explanation

Did you ever compose a poem in which you wrote a word vertically down the page and started each line with one of the letters in that word? That was an acrostic poem. A word that
Can be spelled so that it
Reads from top to bottom
Or across, as a poem
Sometimes is very clever.
That's an acrostic poem.
It can also refer to a puzzle.
Cool, isn't it?

Example Sentences

The London Sinfonietta's programme includes Acrostic Wordplay, while the BBC Symphony Orchestra's concert includes Chin's Violin Concerto, as well as the British premiere of Su, a concerto for Chinese reed instrument the sheng.

From The Guardian • Apr. 8, 2011

August 14 Acrostic Around the Arc de Triomphe An acrostic that Roald Dahl novel made into a 1996 movie.

From New York Times • Aug. 16, 2010

Charades:—146, 216, 232, 248, 296, 344, 440, 584, 697, 728; Decapitated Charade, 328; Double Acrostic Charade, 472.

From Harper's Young People, 1880 Index An Illustrated Weekly by Various

Acrostic writing was one of his favorite pastimes, and he wrote enough of these to have filled a good fat little volume.

From Lewis Carroll in Wonderland and at Home The Story of His Life by Moses, Belle

An Acrostic         Choral service, solemn chanting,         Echoing round cathedrals holy—         Can aught else on earth be wanting         In heav'n's bliss to plunge us wholly?

From The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 4 Poems and Plays by Lamb, Mary