Alphabetic verse: A broad category of poetry in which the arrangement of lines is governed by the alphabet. This form uses the sequence of letters as a structural principle to organize the content of the poem. The most well-known sub-type is the abecedarian, where lines proceed in order from A to Z. Another form is the alphony, where the final word of each line follows the alphabetical sequence. These forms can serve as mnemonic devices, as seen in the Psalms, or as a formal constraint that challenges the poet's creativity. The use of alphabetic verse demonstrates how poets can employ non-thematic, structural rules to generate meaning and guide the reader's experience. It transforms the reading process into a search for patterns and a contemplation of the relationship between order and content.

Poetry incorporating alphabetic organization or progression as structural principle. Related to abecedarius and alphabet poem. Can use full or partial sequences. Medieval origins as mnemonic device; modern use as formal constraint.