acrostic

American  

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

noun

acrostics plural

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

Derived Forms

• acrostically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• acrostics
  plural

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

See Examples For:

acrostic acrostics

The music is based on an acrostic poem the choreographer George Balanchine wrote in 1946 as a birthday present for the composer Igor Stravinsky.

From New York Times ● May 3, 2022

The album title is an acrostic for her family nickname, Simbi - and her lyrics often delve into the darkest corners of her backstory.

From BBC ● Dec. 22, 2021

Times fan and acrostic enthusiast, consider this booklet of more than 80 crossword puzzles in a range of difficulties.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2021

In Week 1406 we asked for acrostic poems, which vertically spell out a relevant word or name with the first letter of each line.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 12, 2020

I am done writing this darn acrostic poem.

From "The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle" by Leslie Connor

One of the greatest American composers, clearly the greatest lyricist — and, by virtue of those two rarely linked greatnesses, the essential musical dramatist of our time — wanted to talk about double acrostics.

From New York Times ● Nov. 26, 2021

I do acrostics and logic games and crossword puzzles in pen, and if one of those crosswords is too easy I will cover up all the “Across” clues.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 17, 2020

Scholars have found what appear to be other “Paradise Lost” acrostics, including one discovered in 1977.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 6, 2019

The New York Times has featured its crossword puzzle since 1942, while other newspapers have carried comics, word puzzles and acrostics.

From New York Times ● Mar. 6, 2014

While the rest of the class shares their acrostics, I write a new one in the margin of my notebook, shielding it with my arm so no one can see.

From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish