I know there are bookmark dictionaries, but those are only programmed to hold 150,000 words give or take. This lap desk has a built unabridged electronic dictionary built into the side panel, and since it's built into the lap desk itself, a massive amount of storage space for words is allotted. This also includes the other perks of lap desks as well, such as a padded bottom, a clip-on book light, and page holders. The batteries for the desk can be stored in the padding beneath the desk, or can be plugged in while not in use to charge. Makes a great surface for laptops as well!
-- ShellCandy, Jun 14 2007

As far as I know/knew the WNT is/was the biggest dictionary http://nl.wikipedia..._Nederlandsche_Taal
[zeno, Jun 17 2007]

There, 301.100 entries, WNT rules http://en.wikipedia..._English_Dictionary
[zeno, Jun 17 2007]

For [Lt_Frank] Welsh-Embraish_20Translaeta_2c_20ken_3f
Anytime pal, anytime. [theleopard, Jul 30 2007]

Pretty good idea. I think what you're trying to express however is the new Microsoft Surface. It's a touch panel that recognizes devices you put on it. Say an RFID chip in the book tells the Surface what book it is and you scroll through the virtual interactive book on the Surface to find the word you want.
-- punk_punker, Jun 14 2007


150.000 words. Can you give me any examples of dictionaries containing substantially more words? And examples of actual books that contain more words? No pressure added to this challenge, just my bun. It's just that I think you won't be able to that's all. My guess would be that you will not be able to find any book that contains more then say, 20.000 different words. [Throws glove in Shellcandy]'s face.
-- zeno, Jun 15 2007


[zeno] The unabridged OED had over 400,000 defined words in 1928 - I think it would be substantially higher nowadays. edit: apparently 500,000 and counting (from OED website)
-- tactik, Jun 15 2007


I like the idea of a dictionary specific to a book. some books have made up words which are not in dictionaries (Shakespeare did that a lot). This kind of dictionary could also be somewhat encyclopedic describing things mentioned in the book, like species or works of art.
-- marklar, Jun 17 2007


WNt has 400.000 entries also. How ever most of these words are not commonly used. Any normal dictionary featuring words that are used is much smaller. Will Google your OED.
-- zeno, Jun 17 2007


So my point is that these dictonaries give a lot of words but they are not commonly used for the most part, any normal dictionary gives much fewer words/entries. Now please give me a book that contains more than 20.000 different words, you cannot.
-- zeno, Jun 17 2007


(to marklar) That's actually a really good idea, having dictionaries specific for Shakespeare's works, A Clockwork Orange, and Tolkein's work would be marvelous. Are you suggesting having a different chip to plug into the lap desk that corresponds with the book you're reading, or having all the entries for every book stored in the desk, and just have accessible under different categories?

(to zeno) Ok, so you may have a point, most books don't contain more than 20,000 different words, but you're forgetting that every single book in the world contains a different set of 20,000 words. You didn't expect all books to have the same words, did you now?
-- ShellCandy, Jun 18 2007


// you're reading a good book and... wait- what does that word mean?//

Email the author. That's what I do.

Seriously, though, I don't know why modern fiction doesn't come with a handy glossary at the end that explains "wainscoting", "obstreperous", and other tough words that are in the book. Why must I be studying French or reading Shakespeare to be entitled to such a glossary?
-- phundug, Jun 18 2007


Nope, but I figure the overlap would be about 19.000 or more. Most of the others would be known to the reader if it is their own language. So the occasional word unknown would not be worth all the trouble.
-- zeno, Jun 19 2007


+1 for [phundug] on the glossary tip.
-- tactik, Jun 24 2007



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