1. (n.) A composition, usually in verse, in which the first or the last letters of the lines, or certain other letters, taken in order, form a name, word, phrase, or motto.

2. (n.) A Hebrew poem in which the lines or stanzas begin with the letters of the alphabet in regular order (as Psalm cxix.). See Abecedarian.

3. (n.) Alt. of Acrostical.

abuse of terms acronym amphibologism amphiboly anagram avyayibhava back formation calembour clipped word compound conjugate construction corruption dvandva dvigu endocentric compound equivocality equivoque exocentric compound formation jeu de mots logogram logogriph malapropism metagram missaying palindrome paronomasia paronym play on words pun punning spoonerism tatpurusha word form wordplay