Upon reading the title “Three ‘Little’ Words”, a predictable reader reaction would associate them with the well-known 1930 song by Harry Ruby and Bert Kalmar, who defined them as:

“Three little words,
Eight little letters,
Which simply mean, I love you.”

Though hopefully not perceived as a “bait and switch” theme, I intended something quite different. My three ‘little’ words are not little in length; but big words, little in use. Consider the following:

(1) Brobdingnagian (pronounced brahb – dinj, – nag’ – ee – an), a fourteen letter mouthful which means “gigantic”, “marked by tremendous size,” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary) or as the current Republican presidential nominee would say: “HUGH!” The origin stems from Jonathan Swift’s novel Gulliver’s Travels, which named Brobdingnag as the land of giants, where everyone and everything loomed unusually large. I contemplated entitling this post:  Three Brobdingnagian Words, but I did not wish to appear ostentatious.

(2) Schadenfreude (pronounced sha’ – den – froy – day) a thirteen letter gem which rolls off the lips with purpose, even if one neither knows the meaning nor speaks German. Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary defines it as “enjoyment obtained from others’ troubles; from German: Schaden: damage; Freude: joy.” in effect, experiencing joy in the misfortunes of others.

In modern day, our polarized politics vaporized the center, so any victory by one side quickly engages in schadenfreude against the losing side. As young children learn sportsmanship by walking through opposing lines slapping hands with a short utterance of “good game,” their parents separate and schadenfreude the other side with jeers and obscene hand signs.

After the former Seattle Supersonics basketball team moved its franchise to Oklahoma City after 40 years, and changed its team name to Thunder, the former Seattle fans expressed supersonic schadenfreude when the Thunder lost in the 2016 NBA Championship semifinal game. I suppose, if they cannot have them, wish them evil.

(3) Sesquipedalian (pronounced sess – kwi – ped’ – al – ian) another fourteen letter behemoth, which rounds out this post regarding  ‘little’ used big words. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as: “ given to or characterized by the use of long words.” Not much more to add here, but it brings a lesson to the table. A modified Strunk & White edict: “Never use a brobdingnagian word, when a huge one will do.”

To complete this post, I will use my “three ‘little’ words” in a sentence: Only a sesquipedalian would use brobdingnagian words to express schadenfreude.