acrostics

An acrostic is a composition in which a word or message is spelled out by the initial (or occasionally final) letters of consecutive lines, paragraphs, or other textual units. The term derives from Greek akros "top" and stichos "line." The most common form is the acrostic poem, where the first letters of lines or stanzas spell a name, phrase, or alphabetic sequence.

Variants include telestics, where the final letters reveal the message, and mesostics, which use selected letters within lines, typically the middle letters, to form a hidden word. In practice, acrostics are used as a mnemonic device, decorative feature, or puzzle mechanism.

Historical and cultural use: Acrostics occur in many ancient and medieval literatures. In Hebrew Bible poetry, the alphabetic acrostic is a prominent device: Lamentations and many of the Psalms arrange lines to follow the Hebrew alphabet, aiding recitation and structure. In other traditions, acrostics have appeared in hymns and moral verse.

Modern use: In literature and education, acrostics are used to honor individuals or to encode messages in a titling or dedication. In puzzles, acrostic puzzles present clues whose answers yield an initial-letter acrostic that reveals a theme, quotation, or name. Acrostics also appear in signage and advertising as a mnemonic or decorative technique.