Poetic Terms Dictionary
Structure

Acrostic

From Greek akrostichon: akros (tip) + stichos (line). Common in medieval and Renaissance poetry as a form of concealed dedication.

Definition

A poem in which the initial letters of each line, read vertically, spell out a word, name, or message.

Example

Each line begins E-L-I-Z-A-B-E-T-H to honour the addressee — a Renaissance tribute device.

Related Terms

Telestich Visual Poetry Abecedarian