UNFINISHED: One word, three dictionaries

[lls]

While translating I have almost always at least three dictionaries open at the same time:



Sometimes I have to look up the same word in all of them. To this end I have to put the word into the search box of one dictionary, then of the second one, then of the third one... It would be nice to have the possibility to put the word into only one dictionary and have it automagically appear in all of them.

Edit: The dictionaries I am talking about are software ones, not on-line. Sorry for my not having been specific enough.

[wraith808]

How about the same word defined from the different sources appearing in one interface instead?

[lls]

I think it would be even better than my original idea (if I understand you properly).

[tomos]

How about the same word defined from the different sources appearing in one interface instead?

-wraith808 (November 03, 2010, 03:43 PM)

would that be possible wraith, were you thinking of have a go? or making a suggestion
or is there software out there that already does this well?

[wraith808]

How about the same word defined from the different sources appearing in one interface instead?

-wraith808 (November 03, 2010, 03:43 PM)

would that be possible wraith, were you thinking of have a go? or making a suggestion
or is there software out there that already does this well?

-tomos (November 18, 2010, 06:54 AM)

I have something, but I haven't had a chance to put the finishing touches on it.  My original was to use multiple browsers, but the only thing I could use for that was IE; the firefox embeddable was not quite ready for primetime.  My second approach was to automate the browser, but I just didn't like that.  So what I settled on was using regex to specify where the search term appeared in the page, and looking for that in the returned html.  It's not exact yet; I need to refine the Regex, but I'm also putting that into a config file so that you can tweak them (and create new ones).  I'll try to get to that this weekend; I wish you had posted this last week, b/c I had forgotten about it and had a lot of time on my hands with the family out of town.  But I'll at least try to get the preliminary posted this weekend if nothing else.

[parkint]

A simple solution is to use Google.  Try this in the Google search area (include the quotes as I have):

definition "ambiguous"

You will get results that are similar to what you have described.  And the synopsis would usually be enough to offer the gist of each.

[MilesAhead]

Using the keyword dictionary instead of definition worked for me.  Or the word defined.

If you wanted to search specific dictionaries then you may be able to cobble something together with a macro to open new tab, then use site:merriam-webster.com word or site:thefreedictionary.com sesquipedalian etc..

btw looks like wraith is doing the tough part.  Gleaning the results. It will be interesting to see the implementation.  Should be a useful tool.

[lls]

If you wanted to search specific dictionaries then you may be able to cobble something together with a macro to open new tab, then use site:merriam-webster.com word or site:thefreedictionary.com sesquipedalian

-MilesAhead (November 18, 2010, 05:05 PM)

The dictionaries I am talking about are software ones, not on-line. As regards the on-line ones I don't need anything better than OneLook.

[wraith808]

If you wanted to search specific dictionaries then you may be able to cobble something together with a macro to open new tab, then use site:merriam-webster.com word or site:thefreedictionary.com sesquipedalian

-MilesAhead (November 18, 2010, 05:05 PM)

The dictionaries I am talking about are software ones, not on-line.

-lls (November 18, 2010, 09:09 PM)

Oh... I misunderstood too.  I was allowing to use the websites; I didn't realize they were software based.

[lls]

Sorry for my not having been specific enough.

[MilesAhead]

Sorry for my not having been specific enough.

-lls (November 18, 2010, 09:20 PM)

It helps to define your terms.  heh heh

[cmpm]

This might be done through a clipboard helper program.
When I double click my clipboard entry it auto loads in the browser search box.
If it is open.

So maybe a clipboard program could be tweaked to load in the clip in open programs with a search box.

This does work with TheSage and ClipMate.
I think it will only work with the program that has focus though.
TheSage is the only dictionary on my computer.

http://www.sequencep...shing.com/index.html

Is there another worthy dictionary to download?

[tomos]

If you wanted to search specific dictionaries then you may be able to cobble something together with a macro to open new tab, then use site:merriam-webster.com word or site:thefreedictionary.com sesquipedalian

-MilesAhead (November 18, 2010, 05:05 PM)

The dictionaries I am talking about are software ones, not on-line.

-lls (November 18, 2010, 09:09 PM)

Oh... I misunderstood too.  I was allowing to use the websites; I didn't realize they were software based.

-wraith808 (November 18, 2010, 09:14 PM)

Did someone do a NANY based on this idea? (using websites - I've lost track of the NANY entries...)

[wraith808]

If you wanted to search specific dictionaries then you may be able to cobble something together with a macro to open new tab, then use site:merriam-webster.com word or site:thefreedictionary.com sesquipedalian

-MilesAhead (November 18, 2010, 05:05 PM)

The dictionaries I am talking about are software ones, not on-line.

-lls (November 18, 2010, 09:09 PM)

Oh... I misunderstood too.  I was allowing to use the websites; I didn't realize they were software based.

-wraith808 (November 18, 2010, 09:14 PM)

Did someone do a NANY based on this idea? (using websites - I've lost track of the NANY entries...)

-tomos (January 08, 2011, 11:59 AM)

I did... the regex's used to get the definitions aren't as good as they should be right now, and I have a couple of features to add, but it's functional.

[tomos]

Found it:

NANY 2011 Release: WordCaster

[lls]

TheSage is the only dictionary on my computer.

http://www.sequencep...shing.com/index.html

Is there another worthy dictionary to download?

-cmpm (January 08, 2011, 10:36 AM)

Yes: http://wordweb.info/free/