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Anonymous
02/02/26(Mon)21:55:41 No.25063343 You come across an unfamiliar word. What dictionary do you use to define it?
Showing all 19 replies.
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Anonymous
02/02/26(Mon)21:58:19 No.25063352 >Fain am I to stagger to this emprise under the weightiest words of the dictionary. And here be it said, that whenever it has been convenient to consult one in the course of these dissertations, I have invariably used a huge quarto edition of Johnson, expressly purchased for that purpose; because that famous lexicographer’s uncommon personal bulk more fitted him to compile a lexicon to be used by a whale author like me.
-Moby Dick, Chapter 104
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Anonymous
02/02/26(Mon)22:06:46 No.25063365 >>25063343
In contemporary prose? Whatever the hell Google gives me first. In ancient or symbolic texts? Whatever the hell Google gives me first, which I then project back into the text and try to intuit the "actual" relational meaning.
Words carry meanings through relationships, most of which are intuited rather than logically derived. Trying to get 'pure' or 'validated' definitions is like focusing on the colour of the flour you buy for cupcakes. Some colours are odd, but the passable interval is surprisingly wide. Because in the end, it's about the whole, not the parts.
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Anonymous
02/02/26(Mon)22:10:48 No.25063373 >>25063343
I assign it a definition of my own making and then try to force it into general use
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Anonymous
02/02/26(Mon)22:22:00 No.25063391 wiktionary.org
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Anonymous
02/02/26(Mon)22:23:18 No.25063393 >>25063343
Doesn't matter, I always forget them. Thank god dictionaries exist otherwise I'd give up on writing.
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Anonymous
02/02/26(Mon)22:24:51 No.25063396 >>25063365
100%, well put.
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Anonymous
02/02/26(Mon)22:31:59 No.25063407 >>25063343
Wiktionary, or if it seems too stupid/niche, Urban Dictionary
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Anonymous
02/02/26(Mon)22:33:29 No.25063412 >>25063343
I have a dictionary from 1903. If it's not in there it's not a real word.
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Anonymous
02/02/26(Mon)22:35:27 No.25063415 >>25063343
Chatgpt what does this mean
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Anonymous
02/02/26(Mon)22:37:30 No.25063420 >>25063407
Wictionary I find especially handy when I'm reading a non-English work
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Anonymous
02/02/26(Mon)22:49:22 No.25063448 >>25063420
Same here
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Anonymous
02/02/26(Mon)22:55:43 No.25063459 >>25063343
Wiktionary. And mainly based on comparing the etymology with other descendants and doublets.
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Anonymous
02/02/26(Mon)23:05:21 No.25063471 >>25063459
Is there an etymology resource better than Wiktionary? It's mint every time I use it for an etymology
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Anonymous
02/02/26(Mon)23:08:11 No.25063478 Merriam websters 11th edition. For online: The Free Dictionary is my favourite since 2010 but it doesn't place on Google search anymore and I'm too lazy to type it in, i use etymonline and websters 1812 teb
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Anonymous
02/03/26(Tue)03:47:57 No.25063859 >>25063471
So you've never heard of Etymonline.
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Anonymous
02/03/26(Tue)04:07:44 No.25063882 the ones built into my kobo
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Anonymous
02/03/26(Tue)04:13:16 No.25063886 >>25063343
google x meaning/etymology
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Anonymous
02/03/26(Tue)05:13:15 No.25063960 >>25063343
I take a glance at google but then immediately put it in quizlet if it seems interesting. It automatically lists definitions when you put it on a card. I take tests on the words from time to time
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Anonymous
02/03/26(Tue)08:38:09 No.25064158 >>25063343
iPadOS builtin dictionary is probably good enough
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