acrostic
Also found in: Thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
a·cros·tic
(ə-krô′stĭk, ə-krŏs′tĭk)n.
1. A poem or series of lines in which certain letters, usually the first in each line, form a name, motto, or message when read in sequence.
2. See word square.
3. A word puzzle in which the answers to several different clues form an anagram of a quotation, phrase, or other text.
[French acrostiche, from Old French, from Greek akrostikhis : akron, head, end; see acromegaly + stikhos, line; see steigh- in Indo-European roots.]
a·cros′tic adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
acrostic
(əˈkrɒstɪk)n
(Literary & Literary Critical Terms)
a. 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
b. the word, proverb, etc, so formed
c. (as modifier): an acrostic sonnet.
[C16: via French from Greek akrostikhis, from acro- + stikhos line of verse, stich]
aˈcrostically adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
a•cros•tic
(əˈkrɔ stɪk, əˈkrɒs tɪk)n.
1. a series of written lines or verses in which the first, last, or other particular letters form a word, phrase, etc.
adj. 2. Also, a•cros′ti•cal. of, like, or forming an acrostic.
a•cros′ti•cal•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
acrostic
- From Greek akron, "end," and stikhos, "row, line of verse."See also related terms for row.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
acrostic
A verse in which the initial letters of each line form a word or phrase reading downwards.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Noun | 1. | acrostic - a puzzle where you fill a square grid with words reading the same down as across |
2. | acrostic - verse in which certain letters such as the first in each line form a word or message literary composition, literary work - imaginative or creative writing |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
Akrostichon
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
acrostic
n → Akrostichon nt
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007