alphabetic

Figure Name alphabetic
Source Macbeth (1876)
Earliest Source Punch Magazine (The London Charivari)
Synonyms
Etymology
Type Scheme
Linguistic Domain Orthographic
Phonological
Definition

1. The Alphabetic is a figure newly invented by the London *Punch*, which designates it as "poetry on a new principle." It defies description; you will perhaps understand it by reading it. (Macbeth)

Example

1. It rhymes on the final *letter* of each alternate line, as thus, it being spelled by you:

"On going forth last night a friend to see,
I met a man by trade a s-n-o-b.
Reeling along he held his tipsy way.
'Ho! ho!' quoth I, 'he's d-r-u-n-k.'
Then thus to him: 'Were it not better far
You were a little s-o-b-e-r?
'Twhere happier for your family, I guess,
Than playing off such rum r-i-g-s.
Besides, all drunkards, when policemen see 'em,
Are taken up at once by t-h-e-m.'" (Macbeth)

Kind Of
Part Of
Related Figures figures of etymology
Notes
Confidence Unconfident
Last Editor Ashley Rose Kelly
Confidence Unconfident
Editorial Notes It appears that Macbeth is citing Punch magazine as the original source so I have included as such. Also, is there another example from Macbeth? -ark
Reviewed No