(Greek: akros, end; stichos, line)
Any composition in which the initial or final letters, syllables, or words of each line form other words or sentences; said to have been invented by Epicharmus. The poem of the Erythrrean Sibyl thus produced the Greek words for "Jesus ChrIst, Son of God, Saviour, which also in turn yielded the letters ICHTHUS (fish), a mystical symbol of Our Lord. The acrostic Psalms 9 (Hebrew 9-10) is only appreciable in the original Hebrew. The term is also applied to passages in Scripture in which the texts begin with letters of the alphabet in consecutive order, e.g., Psalms 110,111, 118; Proverbs 31.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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