also 6–8 acrostick(e, 7 achrostiche, acrostique, 7–8 acrostich. [ad. L. acrostichis, a. Gr. ἀκροστιχίς, f. ἄκρο- (see ACRO-) + στίχος a row, order, line of verse. Occurs in the L. form as late as 1642. The etymological spelling is acrostich, as in distich. Cf. Fr. acrostiche.]
A. sb.
1. A short poem (or other composition) in which the initial letters of the lines, taken in order, spell a word, phrase or sentence. Sometimes the last or middle letters of the lines, or all of them, are similarly arranged to spell words, etc., whence a distinction of single, double or triple acrostics. See also TELESTICH.
1587. Golding, De Mornay, xxxii. 508. Cicero … maketh mention of Sybil’s Acrosticke, that is to say, of certeine verses of hirs whose first letters made the name of that king.
1605. Camden, Rem. (1637), 340. Our Poets have their knacks as young Schollers call them, as Ecchos, Achrostiches, Serpentine verses.
1642. Montagu, Acts & Mon., 220. The whole Poeme, or Passage of that Acrostichis, is a Description of the generale Judgement.
1656. Cowley, Of Wit, vi. Wks. 1686, 2. In which who finds out Wit, the same may see In An’grams and Acrostiques, Poetry.
1711. Addison, Spectator, No. 60, ¶ 4. Besides these there are compound Acrosticks, where the principal Letters stand two or three deep.
1767. A. Campbell, Lexiphanes (1774), 98. Rhyme is fit for nothing but madrigals, epigrams and acrosticks.
1841. Spalding, Italy, II. 25. Publius Optatianus Porphyrius composed, in 326, a poem, still extant, in praise of Constantine, the lines of which are acrostics.
1844. Lingard, Hist. A.-S. Ch., ii. (1858), II. 145. Acrostics were also admired, both single and double.
2. A Hebrew poem in which the consecutive lines or verses begin with the successive letters of the alphabet; an ABECEDARIAN poem.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v., Some pretend to find Acrostics in the psalms, particularly in those called Abcdarian psalms.
1868. Chambers, Encycl., I. 33. It was customary at one time to compose verses on sacred subjects after the fashion of these Hebrew acrostics, the successive verses or lines beginning with the letters of the alphabet in their order.
† 3. The beginning or end of a verse. Obs.
1614. Selden, Titles of Honor (1614), 12. That Acrostich … Κρῆτες ἀεὶ ψεῦσται.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v., Tho’ an Acrostic properly signifies the beginning of a verse, yet it is sometimes also used for the end or close of it; as by the author of the constitutions, when he orders one to sing the hymns of David, and the people to sing after him the Acrostics or ends of the verses … This was called singing Acrostics, Acrostichia, which is a species of psalmody usual in the antient church.
B. adj. Pertaining to or characterized by acrostics (in senses A 1, 2).
1682. Dryden, Macflecknoe, 206. Leave writing plays, and choose for thy command, Some peaceful province in Acrostic land.
1669. Gale, Crt. of Gentiles, I. I. xii. 78. That the Phenician order [of Letters] … was most ancient, appeares by the Acrostic verses of David.
1868. Chambers, Encycl., I. 33. The Acrostic poetry of the Hebrews.
