Three+Y
I haven’t put up a list in a while, so here’s a quick one. There are 1015 threes – how many take a y as a back hook? The answer: 91. Here they are:
AIRY– having the nature of air [adj AIRIER, AIRIEST] dfh
ALLY– to unite in a formal relationship [v –LIED, –LYING, –LIES] bdgprstw l
ARMY– a large body of men trained and armed for war [n –MIES] b
ARTY– showily or pretentiously artistic [adj ARTIER, ARTIEST] ptw
–ASHY– covered with ashes [adj ASHIER, ASHIEST] dmw
–AWAY– from a certain place [adv]
AWNY– AWN, a bristlelike appendage of certain grasses [adj] flt
BODY– to give form to [v BODIED, BODYING, BODIES]
BOGY– a goblin (an evil or mischievous creature) [n –GIES]
–BOXY– resembling a box [adj BOXIER, BOXIEST] : BOXILY [adv]
–BRAY– to utter a harsh cry [v BRAYED, BRAYING, BRAYS] s
BURY– to put in the ground and cover with earth [v BURIED, BURYING, BURIES]
BUSY– occupied [adj BUSIER, BUSIEST], to make busy (occupied) [v BUSIED, BUSYING, BUSIES]
COLY– an African bird [n COLIES]
CONY– a rabbit [n CONIES]
COPY– to imitate (to behave in the same way as) [v COPIED, COPYING, COPIES] : COPYABLE [adj]
CORY– a former monetary unit of Guinea [n CORY]
COSY– cozy (snug and comfortable) [adj COSIER, COSIEST], cozy (to attempt to get on friendly terms) [v COSIED, COSYING, COSIES]
COWY– suggestive of a cow [adj COWIER, COWIEST]
COZY– snug and comfortable [adj COZIER, COZIEST] : COZILY [adv], to attempt to get on friendly terms [v COZIED, COZYING, COZIES]
DEFY– to resist openly and boldly [v –FIED, –FYING, –FIES]
DENY– to declare to be untrue [v –NIED, –NYING, –NIES]
DEWY– moist with dew [adj DEWIER, DEWIEST]
DEXY– dexie (a tablet of dex) [n DEXIES]
DIDY– a diaper [n –DIES]
DOGY– dogie (a stray calf) [n –GIES]
DORY– a flat-bottomed boat [n –RIES]
DOTY– stained by decay [adj DOTIER, DOTIEST]
EELY– resembling an eel (a snakelike fish) [adj EELIER, EELIEST] s
EGGY– containing eggs [adj] l
ELMY– abounding in elms (a deciduous tree) [adj –MIER, –MIEST]
FOGY– an old-fashioned person [n –GIES] : FOGYISH [adj]
–FOXY– crafty (skillful in deceiving) [adj FOXIER, FOXIEST]
FURY– violent anger [n –RIES]
–GABY– a dolt (a stupid person) [n –BIES]
GAMY– plucky (brave and spirited) [adj GAMIER, GAMIEST]
GAPY– infested with gapeworms [adj]
GOBY– a small fish [n GOBIES]
GORY– bloody (stained with blood) [adj GORIER, GORIEST]
ICKY– repulsive [adj ICKIER, ICKIEST] : ICKILY [adv] dkp
IFFY– full of uncertainty [adj IFFIER, IFFIEST] bjm
ILLY– badly (in a bad manner) [adv] bdfghsw
INKY– resembling ink [adj INKIER, INKIEST] dhklpz
JOEY– a young kangaroo [n –EYS] s
LACY– resembling lacework (a delicate openwork fabric) [adj LACIER, LACIEST]
LADY– a woman of refinement and gentle manners [n –DIES] g
LEVY– to impose or collect by legal authority [v LEVIED, LEVYING, LEVIES]
LINY– resembling a line [adj LINIER, LINIEST]
LOGY– sluggish (displaying little movement or activity) [adj –GIER, –GIEST] o
–MANY– consisting of or amounting to a large number [adj MORE, MOST]
MIRY– swampy (marshy (resembling a marsh (a tract of low, wet land))) [adj MIRIER, MIRIEST]
MOLY– a wild garlic [n –LIES]
MONY– many (consisting of or amounting to a large number) [adj]
MOPY– mopey (dejected) [adj MOPIER, MOPIEST]
NIXY– an undeliverable piece of mail [n NIXIES]
NOSY– unduly curious [adj NOSIER, NOSIEST]
OAKY– tasting of oak sap [adj OAKIER, OAKIEST]
–OBEY– to follow the commands or guidance of [v –ED, –ING, –S] : OBEYABLE [adj] s
OILY– covered or soaked with oil [adj OILIER, OILIEST] dnr
–OKAY– to approve (to regard favorably) [v –ED, –ING, –S] t s
OLDY– oldie (a popular song of an earlier day) [n OLDIES] m
ORBY– resembling a circle or sphere [adj ORBIER, ORBIEST] cf
PACY– pacey (keeping a fast pace (rate of speed)) [adj PACIER, PACIEST] s
PALY– somewhat pale [adj PALIER, PALIEST]
PATY– formee (having the arms narrow at the center and expanding toward the ends — used of a heraldic cross) [adj]
PINY– suggestive of or covered with pine trees [adj PINIER, PINIEST] s
PIPY– shrill (having a high-pitched and piercing quality) [adj PIPIER, PIPIEST]
PITY– to feel pity (sorrow aroused by another’s misfortune) [v PITIED, PITYING, PITIES]
PIXY– a playfully mischievous fairy or elf [n PIXIES] : PIXYISH [adj]
POLY– a type of white blood cell [n POLYS], a garment made of polyester [n POLIES] ps
–POXY– afflicted with a pox [adj POXIER, POXIEST] e
PUNY– of inferior size, strength, or significance [adj PUNIER, PUNIEST]
QUAY– a wharf [n QUAYS] : QUAYLIKE [adj] s
RIMY– frosty (covered with frost) [adj RIMIER, RIMIEST] g
RUBY– of a deep-red color [adj –BIER, –BIEST], to tint with the color of a ruby (a deep-red precious stone) [v –BIED, –BYING, –BIES]
SAGY– flavored with sage [adj SAGIER, SAGIEST]
SEXY– arousing sexual desire [adj SEXIER, SEXIEST]
–SHAY– a chaise (a light carriage) [n SHAYS] s
–SPAY– to remove the ovaries of [v –ED, –ING, –S] s
–THEY– the 3d person pl. pronoun in the nominative case [pron]
TINY– very small [adj TINIER, TINIEST]
TODY– a West Indian bird [n TODIES]
TONY– stylish (fashionable) [adj TONIER, TONIEST] as
TORY– a political conservative [n –RIES] s
TOWY– resembling coarse hemp or flax fiber [adj]
VARY– to become or make different [v VARIED, VARYING, VARIES] o
WADY– wadi (the bed of a usually dry watercourse) [n –DIES]
–WANY– waning in some parts [adj WANIER, WANIEST]
WARY– watchful (closely observant or alert) [adj WARIER, WARIEST]
WAXY– resembling wax [adj WAXIER, WAXIEST]
WINY– having the taste or qualities of wine [adj WINIER, WINIEST] t