telestich
(tɪ-, tɛˈlɛstɪk, ˈtɛlɪstɪk)
[irreg. f. Gr. τέλος, τελε- end + στίχος a row, line of verse, after acrostic.]
A short poem (or other composition) in which the final letters of the lines, taken in order, spell a word or words. (Cf. acrostic.)
| a 1637 B. Jonson Underwoods lxi. 39 Had I pump'd for..Acrostichs, and telestichs. 1673 S' too him Bayes 44 The arrantest dunce that ever made acrostick, telestick, or anagram. 1862 H. B. Wheatley Anagrams 46 A very ingenious form of the double acrostic, called the Telestich, has been invented. 1883 H. M. Kennedy tr. Ten Brink's E. Eng. Lit. 36 A predilection for other metrical diversions, especially the acrostic and telestich. |