Dictonaries on Kindle

[Numinous]

I notice that Amazon is selling Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition which is the dictionary I normally use at home in both the dead-tree and computer versions. Apparently, though, if I buy it I can't use it as the default dictionary for the Kindle look up feature.
Which dictionaries can be used? is there a version of MWCD that can be used? Where could that be found and what would be necessary to make it usable on the Kindle?
Ok, I'm a hopeless noob.
Numi

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by Numinous

I notice that Amazon is selling Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition which is the dictionary I normally use at home in both the dead-tree and computer versions. Apparently, though, if I buy it I can't use it as the default dictionary for the Kindle look up feature.
Which dictionaries can be used? is there a version of MWCD that can be used? Where could that be found and what would be necessary to make it usable on the Kindle?
Ok, I'm a hopeless noob.
Numi

I don't believe at this point you have any choice at all. This is something they are 'supposed' to be working on.

[Numinous]

I read somewhere that there are .mobi dictionaries that will work but there was not enough information about how to make them work, which ones will work or where to get them. It all seemed kinda vague to me (something about creating a mobipocket file). Hopefully Amazon will get a round toit.

Thanks,

Numi

[Dragoro]

That would be cool if you could set a different dictionary as the default one.

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by Numinous

I read somewhere that there are .mobi dictionaries that will work but there was not enough information about how to make them work, which ones will work or where to get them. It all seemed kinda vague to me (something about creating a mobipocket file). Hopefully Amazon will get a round toit.

Thanks,

Numi

You can, of course, load different dictionarys on the Kindle but you won't have the same ease of lookup as with the default.

[lovebeta]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

You can, of course, load different dictionarys on the Kindle but you won't have the same ease of lookup as with the default.

I think you can. I set my default dictionary to another one before.

[BurBunny]

There is something in the K2 User Guide about changing the default dictionary. I believe it gives detailed instructions if I recall correctly.

[fugazied]

Sorry, what kind of dictionary is the default?

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by fugazied

Sorry, what kind of dictionary is the default?

It comes with The New Oxford American Dictionary

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by BurBunny

There is something in the K2 User Guide about changing the default dictionary. I believe it gives detailed instructions if I recall correctly.

By golly, when you are right, you are right........from Chapter 7 of the Kindle Users Guide

Choosing Your Primary Dictionary
You can choose the dictionary you want to use when you look up words while you are reading.
The default is The New Oxford American Dictionary included on your Kindle, but you can
change your dictionary choice by purchasing a different dictionary on the Kindle Store and then
following these steps:
1. If you are not already on the Home screen, press the Home button.
2. Press the Menu button.
3. Move the 5-way to underline "Settings" and press to select.
4. Press the Menu button.
5. Move the 5-way to underline "Change Primary Dictionary" and press to select.
6. Move the 5-way to underline the dictionary you want to use and press to select

[daffy4u]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

By golly, when you are right, you are right........from Chapter 7 of the Kindle Users Guide

Kindle 1 has the ability for the dictionary to be changed via the settings screen. The problem is there have been no dictionaries to switch to... they've all been marked "not yet available". Hopefully this will change soon.

Edit: The Webster dictionary was one I contacted both Miriam Webster and Amazon about last June. Since it's available now, I'm going to download it and see if it works. I'll let you know.

[StanDaMan]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

By golly, when you are right, you are right........from Chapter 7 of the Kindle Users Guide

Great find! Thanks for that

[wallcraft]

I am aware of no dictionaries with DRM (or from the Kindle store) that work as the primary dictionary on the Kindle. You can use one of the publicly available DRM-free MOBI dictionaries available here as the primary dictionary on the Kindle: Webster, Noah: Webster's Dictionary 1913, GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English, and Wordnet Dictionary for Mobipocket. I have only tested the GNU dictionary (not the other two), but I am anyway happy with the Oxford American so I have not switched.

I downloaded the sample of the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition on the Kindle, but this is not detected as a dictionary and isn't even usable as a conventional book dictionary. The entire dictionary might be ok though, and I'm sure you will get your money back if it does not work.

[daffy4u]

It works now!

Edit: It also works right away. No need to wait for any kind of indexing! This is great! Thanks for getting me to revisit this Numinous.

[Dragoro]

Originally Posted by daffy4u

It works now!

Edit: It also works right away. No need to wait for any kind of indexing! This is great! Thanks for getting me to revisit this Numinous.

sweet!!