How do I lookup a word in all English Dictionaries?

Jason Saling
Jason Saling Member Posts: 344 ✭✭
edited November 2024 in English Forum

I've made a collection of all my English Dictionaries, but what is the best way to look up a word in the dictionaries? (Not a Bible Word Study, but simply looking up a word in dictionaries).  If I use the Basic Search then it just finds all the times that particular word is used, but not solely that words definition.

Jason Saling

Comments

  • Mark Smith
    Mark Smith MVP Posts: 11,844

    Jason,

    I usually just type the word into the resource's reference box.

    I assume, however you want to automate this, perhaps for looking up a word when reading in a resource. To do this create a custom Bible Word Study template. Add one item to the template, 'Definition', and specify the collection of dictionaries you've created. Name the guide and close it. Whenever you right click on a word and select the 'Selection' tab on the right you'll see your named template appear on the right. Click on it and it will open up a list of your dictionaries to that word.

    image

    My custom guide example is for Bible Dictionaries, but you'll do yours for English Dictionaries.

    image

    Pastor, North Park Baptist Church

    Bridgeport, CT USA

  • Jason Saling
    Jason Saling Member Posts: 344 ✭✭

    That is getting closer to what I'm wanting to do, but it would be even better if I could simply TYPE in the english word and it give me an automated report taking results from all English dictionaries (instead of having to right click on a word inside a resource already open)

    Jason Saling

  • Mark Smith
    Mark Smith MVP Posts: 11,844

    No way to do what you want that I know of, sorry. If one could specify more than a single instance of the Definition tool in the Bible Word Study you could add multiple instances and have each one search a single book collection. With the guide open you could then type the word you were interested in into the reference box and hit enter and get all entries listed instead of just one.

    You might make this kind of report or functionality a suggestion.

    Pastor, North Park Baptist Church

    Bridgeport, CT USA

  • Simon’s Brother
    Simon’s Brother Member Posts: 6,831 ✭✭✭

    Jason you can add the custom guide that Mark suggested to your shortcut bar, then whenever you want to look up a word just click on the shortcut to open the guide and type in the word you are interested in looking up and your report will be generated

  • Mark Smith
    Mark Smith MVP Posts: 11,844

    I think Jason was hoping to get a tool that listed each dictionary entry one right after another rather than how the guide I suggested works. Here is my example (Bible Dictionaries rather than English Dictionaries):

    image

    Right now you have to click on all but the dictionary on the right to get to the definition. With multiple 'Definition' sections one could have successive entries each with the entry like the one from the Anchor Bible Dictionary on the left. No clicking to get to the other dictionaries' definitions.

    Pastor, North Park Baptist Church

    Bridgeport, CT USA

  • Jason Saling
    Jason Saling Member Posts: 344 ✭✭

    Where you have the word "righteous" typed in, I am unable to do that.  I assumed the only way to look up a word was to use the right click menu and then select your customized bible word study guide.  If you were actually able to TYPE the word in the customized guide to look it up, then that just means it's not yet implemented on the Mac side, since I couldn't do that.

    Jason Saling

  • Simon’s Brother
    Simon’s Brother Member Posts: 6,831 ✭✭✭

    I think Jason was hoping to get a tool that listed each dictionary entry one right after another rather than how the guide I suggested works. Here is my example (Bible Dictionaries rather than English Dictionaries):


    Right now you have to click on all but the dictionary on the right to get to the definition. With multiple 'Definition' sections one could have successive entries each with the entry like the one from the Anchor Bible Dictionary on the left. No clicking to get to the other dictionaries' definitions.

    Gotcha Mark, so what Jason wants is basically the Libronix 3 Keylink Summary Report, (but beefed up with the option to select a collection would be great)

    image

     

  • Simon’s Brother
    Simon’s Brother Member Posts: 6,831 ✭✭✭

    Where you have the word "righteous" typed in, I am unable to do that.  I assumed the only way to look up a word was to use the right click menu and then select your customized bible word study guide.  If you were actually able to TYPE the word in the customized guide to look it up, then that just means it's not yet implemented on the Mac side, since I couldn't do that.

    After you type it in the guide did you press enter or click on 'go arrow'

    image

     

    I don't have a MAC to keep up with the differences so assumed this would be the same but maybe its not.

    As Mark pointed out though, the layout won't be exactly what you were requiring.

     

  • Jason Saling
    Jason Saling Member Posts: 344 ✭✭

    Perhaps I just had a glitch, since it is working now.  There is one more problem though, it seems like it can only look up words that are somehow biblical related.  If I try other words that I know are in some of the dictionaries, but not necessary a "bible word," then it will not let me lookup the word. (examples: velocity, veer, vatican, coach)

    Jason Saling

  • Mark Smith
    Mark Smith MVP Posts: 11,844

    but not necessary a "bible word," then it will not let me lookup the word. (examples: velocity, veer, vatican, coach)

    Interesting. Of course this is a customized Word Study Guide. It is using a restricted word list which is why when you type in a word it looks for a match or gives you suggestions. So it really isn't good for our hijacked purpose. Sorry.

    Pastor, North Park Baptist Church

    Bridgeport, CT USA

  • Dave Hooton
    Dave Hooton MVP Posts: 36,330

    There is one more problem though, it seems like it can only look up words that are somehow biblical related.

    That is Logos' intention, so it is not a problem (and I've tried to get it changed!).

    Dave
    ===

    Windows 11 & Android 13