My lexicological lust is fed by online word lists

Those who know me well know that my oldest and most enduring love is for words. You might think I'd have lots of company in that passion, given my line of work — and I do. But a few years ago, when two new dictionaries came out at about the same time, I was the only one I knew who got really excited about it.

My enthusiasm apparently left a mark (perhaps a scar). A few days ago, a colleague who remembered my dictionary review asked if I still had the Encarta dictionary. Unfortunately, I did not.

The last time I looked for it online I learned that it was out of print, but I did another search today and found that it has been revived in several editions. I'm not in the market for a dictionary, but, as often happens, the search turned up something interesting for online use.

A Google search found "MSN Encarta Dictionary" at the top of the list. This turned out to be a site where you can type in a word and get the Encarta definition.
I was already a heavy user of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary site and was familiar with Dictionary.com and a few other word-lookup sites, so this was a chance to repeat my dictionary review experience online.
What a treat! I learned two new words in the first five minutes, and I was reminded what I liked so much about Encarta definitions — they give a clear sense of how each word currently is used and brief, pointed etymologies. I spent some time looking up the two words in different online dictionaries, and if I hadn't been facing a deadline, I might be comparing them still.
I was mostly switching back and forth between MSN Encarta and Merriam-Webster, but for really hard-core comparisons, try OneLook.com. It will search for definitions in 981 different dictionaries, including Webster's, Encarta, The Phronteristery and the Compact Oxford English Dictionary, the free version of the much revered OED, which is available online only by subscription.

While it is educational to compare definitions across dictionaries, count on Microsoft to add useful automation. The MSN Encarta Dictionary offers a downloadable right-click link that lets you right click on any word on a Web page and get the Encarta definition. When you right click on a word, the familiar right-click menu opens. "Encarta definition" appears in the penultimate panel. Click that and a small window opens showing the definition of the word. It only works in Internet Explorer and only on Windows machines — it is Microsoft, after all.

Merriam-Webster Online also offers right-click definitions as well as a right-click thesaurus, but you have to type in the word. They are part of a package with Merriam-Webster's more useful downloadable toolbar, which lets you type in a word from your Web window.

With Encarta's right-click dictionary, you don't have to type the word, but you do have to make two clicks. With Merriam-Webster's toolbar, you can copy and paste the word into the toolbar, so it's about the same effort.

Back when I reviewed the new print dictionaries, I decided the Merriam-Webster would remain on my desk, the Encarta would be shared with the reporters, and the OED would be my Christmas gift. In this updated, online version I can have all three at my fingertips.