15 Big Little Words

15 Big Little Words 15 Big Little Words 15 Big Little Words By Mark Nichol Sometimes, short and sweet is best, and English includes many three-letter words that help us accommodate our yearning for concise composition or, to be brief, fix our yen for curt prose. Some are workhorse words the article the, the pronouns his and her, conjunctions like and, prepositions such as for, verbs like put and say. However, other three-letter words pack a lot of punch as nouns, adjectives, and verbs (sometimes adaptable to all three forms of speech), and are suitable for purposes as diverse as fitting into a tight headline or packing a punch in prose. Here’s a list of vivid vocabulary consisting of three letters: 1. Apt: appropriate, or suited or inclined 2. Ire: anger 3. Ken: something known or understood, or to know or recognize 4. Wee: small 5. Vex: to distress, irritate, agitate, or puzzle 6. Eke: to accomplish with great effort (also used to mean â€Å"increase† or â€Å"also†) 7. Cog: a tooth on a gear, or, in a figurative sense, a person as an insignificant part of an enterprise; a similar projection on a piece of wood for interconnecting with another piece; also, flattering, or throwing dice unfairly (also used to mean â€Å"to cheat or deceive,† as well as referring to a medieval sailing vessel) 8. Cwm: a valley or hollow 9. Err: to make a mistake, or to transgress 10. Ere: before 11. Gig: a short-term job 12. Yen: a yearning or urge for something 13. Bar: a beam or rod or other manufactured device or natural feature, or a counter for serving drinks or a commercial enterprise for this purpose, but also a verb meaning â€Å"to obstruct or prevent† or in reference to an exception (â€Å"barring that†) 14. Jet: a powerful stream of material, a jetlike emanation, or an airplane that uses jet propulsion, but also a very dark black, a type of glossy coal often used as jewelry 15. Ram: a male sheep, or a tool used for forcing movement or for breaking through a door or other structure, or a part of a vehicle or vessel designed to damage other vehicles or vessels; to use a tool or similar device Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Masters Degree or Master's Degree?Top 11 Writing Apps for iOS (iPhone and iPad)Epidemic vs. Pandemic vs. Endemic