I wasn't aware that speed was a particular problem in online dictionaries, but someone apparently thought it was worth the effort to develop a faster one.
Dan
You're right. It isn't that fast. And the dictionary content is from WordNet, which is used all over the Internet. What we really need is *new* dictionary content, not a faster dictionary.
Grant Barrett said:
What we really need is *new* dictionary content, not a faster dictionary.
Ah, but that would require giving lexicographers a job. Can't have that.
Dan
What we need is a dictionary that has only words that literate English speakers are likely to need to look up.
Take a large dictionary (200k words?) and subtract all the words that are in an abridged, pocket, dictionary (80k words?)
Viola! A single-volume (or smaller file for a PDA/ereader) dictionary without all the common words that rarely get looked up!