acrostic

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

noun

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.

adjective

Also a·cros·ti·cal. of, like, or forming an acrostic.

Origin of acrostic

1580–90; < Greek akrostichís, equivalent to akro- acro- + stích(os) stich1 + -is noun suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM acrostic

a·cros·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby acrostic

acrospire, acrospore, across, across the board, across-the-board, acrostic, acroter, acroterion, acroterium, acrotism, acrotrophoneurosis

British Dictionary definitions for acrostical

acrostic
/ (əˈkrɒstɪk) /

noun

  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

Derived forms of acrostic

acrostically, adverb

Word Origin for acrostic

C16: via French from Greek akrostikhis, from acro- + stikhos line of verse, stich