Main Entry: acros·tic

Pronunciation: \ə-ˈkrȯs-tik, -ˈkräs-\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle French & Greek; Middle French acrostiche, from Greek akrostichis, from akr- acr- + stichos line; akin to steichein to go — more at stair

Date: 1530

1 : a composition usually in verse in which sets of letters (as the initial or final letters of the lines) taken in order form a word or phrase or a regular sequence of letters of the alphabet
2 : acronym

— acrostic also acros·ti·cal \-ti-kəl\ adjective

— acros·ti·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb