akrostikhon

Akrostikhon, or acrostic, is a form of poetry or text in which the initial letters of lines, verses, or stanzas, when read in order, reveal a word or message. The technique can also use letters from other positions, but the classic acrostic emphasizes the starting letters.

Etymology and terminology: the term akrostikhon derives from the Greek elements akros meaning “top” or “beginning” and stichē meaning “line” or “verse.” In many languages the practice is described with the loanword acrostic, while akrostikhon is the transliterated form used in some Slavic and other traditions, sometimes alongside spellings such as acrostichon.

Forms and techniques: the most common form is a straightforward initial-letter acrostic, where the first letters of successive lines spell a name, title, or message. Other related techniques include mesostich, where the key text appears in the middle positions of lines, and telestich, where the final letters spell out the message. Some works combine multiple positions to encode information or dedicate the piece.

Historical context: acrostics appear across ancient, medieval, and early modern literatures. Hebrew poetry, including some Psalms, features alphabetic acrostics; classical Greek and Latin poets used acrostics for name-dedications and thematic emphasis; medieval and Renaissance writers employed them in devotional, elegiac, and scholarly poetry. In modern times, acrostics persist in poetry, inscriptions, and word puzzles, serving both artistic and mnemonic or commemorative purposes.

Uses and reception: today akrostikhon is valued for its linguistic symmetry and puzzle-like quality. It remains a common device in classroom exercises, literary experiments, and puzzle collections, illustrating how form can encode additional meaning within a verse.