Best Free Dictionary/Thesaurus Utility
I've been using WordWeb [1] for a while now and have seen enough to say this will be one of the rare utilities I review that ends up staying on my PC. So what does it do?
Well, it's not a spellchecker so let's get that out of the way. If that's what you want, check the next item below. Rather, WordWeb is an enhanced dictionary and thesaurus. I say "enhanced" because it does some tricky extra things like showing only the relevant synonyms and related words according to whether they are noun, verb, adjective or adverb. It can also find words by pattern match or dictionary adjacency.
Usage is simple; just select a word in any document and click the WordWeb tray icon. Immediately you'll get a popup with the word's meaning and synonyms. Overall, it works efficiently and elegantly to help you find the just right word to use in your written reports. WordWeb is free for personal use and a Pro version with an enhanced dictionary costs a mere $29 and is well worth buying.
An equally attractive alternative to WordWeb is TheSage [2] from Sequence Publishing. Like WordWeb, it's a comprehensive dictionary with over 140,000 references together with a powerful thesaurus. It differs in that it is free even for commercial use and offers a couple of features missing from the free version of WordWeb such as anagram solving and wildcard word matches. On the minus side, WordWev allows you to find meanings and synonyms in any application just by double clicking the word; with TheSage you have to cut and paste it into the application after you've launched it from its task bar icon. Picking a winner here is too hard. Try both and decide for yourself. Both products work with Windows 95 and later.
If you just want a thesaurus consider Mobysaurus [3]. It's much more comprehensive than the thesaurus in either WordWeb and The Sage but lacks a separate dictionary. However for wordsmiths it's a must-have product. Mobysaurus is yet another outstanding free utility from the guys at DonationCoder. If you use Mobysaurus, do the right thing and support DonationCoder generously.
[1] WordWeb
Website: http://wordweb.info/
Download link: http://wordweb.info/free/
Author: Antony Lewis
Current Version: 5.2
Version Date: 2007
Download File size: 7.41MB
License: Freeware - It may not be used by people who take more than four flights a year.
Operating Systems supported: Windows 98/Me/NT/2000/XP/Vista
Additional Software Required: None
64 Bit capable: No
Portable version available: Yes
Non-English languages supported: No
Other relevant information: User can choose which flavor of English (i.e. British, American, South African, etc.)
[2] TheSage
Website: http://www.sequencepublishing.com/thesage.html
Download link: http://www.sequencepublishing.com/thesage.html
Author: Sequence Publishing
Current Version: 1.4.0
Version Date: September 26, 2006
Download File size: 7.9MB
License: Freeware
Operating Systems supported: Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP
Additional Software Required: None
64 Bit capable: No
Portable version available: Yes
Non-English languages supported: No
Other relevant information: The Sage's dictionary is now online http://www.sequencepublishing.com/thesageonline.php
[3] Mobysaurus
Website: http://www.mobysaurus.com/
Download link: http://www.mobysaurus.com/
Author: DonationCoder
Current Version: 1.0.55
Version Date: Jan 30, 2007
Download File size: 4.71 MB
License: Donationware
Operating Systems supported: Windows 98/Me/NT/2000/2003/XP/Vista
Additional Software Required: .NET Framework 2.0
64 Bit capable: No
Portable version available: No
Non-English languages supported: No
Other relevant information: They offer a new free online thesaurus http://freethesaurus.net/
This software category is maintained by William Fishburne.
Other freeware to be downloaded and reviewed:
- Lingoes (http://www.lingoes.net/)
- Enzo Word (http://www.humanized.com/enso/words)
- Metaglossary (http://www.metaglossary.com)
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The new version of TheSage (3.1.0) is far superior to anything out there. Check it out and prove me wrong if you can!!
Everest Dictionary is a great free dictionary with more than 37 dictionaries, covering mainly all European languages.
Features:
It contains all international communication languages
The possibility to search words in many dictionaries
The possibility to search words using an index
The search of the words can be particularized
A double-click on a word will generate the automatic search of the word this command was acting on
Back button to the definition previously searched
The color of the found words can be particularized.
Instant translator: translate words using your mouse
Everest Game: good for testing your knowledge
Review: http://tr.im/1ley (Softpedia)
Download: http://www.free-soft.ro/download.html
Each application mentioned here has its own appeal and you will find them more than useful.
Hi
Any free dictionary for Arabic?
What should be added is that WordWeb is well suited for the minimalist PC user that values speed and low footprint (both disk + resident memory). This satisfies both. Sadly, I've retired my copy of WordWeb for Babylon (a somewhat bloated commercial offering) since I frequently have the need to look up words in multiple languages.
Simply, if an English-English dictionary+thesaurus is all you need, this is the software I also recommend. The dictionary is actually derived from the WordNet project at Princeton: an extremely comprehensive database of English language, examining relationships between words: synonyms, hypernyms, hyponyms, etc.
I used WordWeb for many years and have nothing but respect for its author. However, when I found TheSage I knew that I wasn't going back.
By the way, have you seen the latest version of TheSage? Wow, simply wow. That's a dictionary that is going beyond all else on the planet! You don't need to use it, you don't need to download it. Just go to the website, take a look at the screenshot, and then contact the author of your favorite dictionary and ask for the features that you are missing...
I was very happy with Wordweb. How ever I found Stardict here:
http://stardict.sourceforge.net/
And boy does Stardict rock! Thousands of free dictionaries/thesaurus'/encyclopedias/jargon lists/ are available.
Really you will stop using wordweb when you start using this. Note however you have to choose the dictionaries carefully. I could recommend wordnet, oxford advanced learner's dictionary and Britanica concise encyclopedia
I have been using WordWeb for the last couple of years. I am more than happy with it...
i am using Lingoes and very happy with it. As a french and english learner it helps me so much. It is a great productivity tool that saves a big time.
I've used WordWeb for over a year now and it's one of those tools I couldn't live without.
If you already use Enzo Launcher, Enzo Word (http://www.humanized.com/enso/words) is a nice addition (dictionary/thsaurus/spell checker).
Metaglossary (http://www.metaglossary.com) is a different sort of dictionary/thesaurus. It searches the web and includes definitions from multiple sources... but it can be slow.
[4] Lingoes
Website: http://www.lingoes.net/
Download link: http://www.lingoes.net/en/translator/download.htm
Author: Lingoes Project
Current Version: 2.2.0
Version Date: Mar 20, 2008
Download File size: 3.69MB
License: Freeware
Operating Systems supported: Windows 2000/XP/2003/Vista
Additional Software Required: None
64 Bit capable: Yes
Portable version available: No
Non-English languages supported: Yes
Other relevant information: Lingoes is an easy-to-use dictionary and text translation software, It offers lookup dictionaries, text translation, a cursor-driven translator, an index list and pronunciation of words in over 80 languages. These language are English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Arabic, Hebrew and more...
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