Fellow fractaliers/wordsmiths-
Seemingly OT, but really not (after all, words are
all we've got w/ e-mail [other than the fractal images we then discuss
using words], and we all listen frequently to the proof that the same word
holds different meanings for different fractaliers, fractophiles, fractamants,
and fractamandes.
I'd actually be really interested in
which on-line/RAM-resident dictionary/thesaurus you folks find easiest to
use in a predominantly(or is it predominately?) WindowsXP
environment using MSWord from within "MS Office for XP Pro".
For example, where did PNL and Andrew Coppin get
the definitions to cut and paste into their messages today? And where could we
have gotten, in addition, the words' respective etymologies?
1) At one end of the spectrum is the
embarrassingly bad spell-checker/"thesaurus" which is part of MS Word.
What a stinker.
Good only for catching inadvertent typo's and
double keystrokes. Don't think I can remember when I last learned a
new word or synonym from that albatross - I spend more time
training it than vice versa.
I'd really love to be able to:
a) whip out the definition, pronunciation and
definitions of a given word (I'd like a little etymology, too),
and
b) spell-check quickly and non-repetitively -
without leaving the Word Application, using a semi-intelligent checker.
You'd think that the least Gates could do for us (and therefore
most we might reasonably expect) would be a neural net in
the background back there, somewhere, even if they didn't admit
it.
[But then again, this is the Gang that can't shoot
straight, and offers you now an incredible "Business Intelligence" tool -
what an oxymoron). For a mere $179, "Data Analyzer", with all
the statistical power of a cream puff . . . . . ]
2) Then there's the middle
ground: Webster's Collegiate Dictionary and Roget's
Thesaurus.
For example, for an extra $10 or so, you can get a
CD-ROM in the pocket if you buy Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, the
"Ump-teenth" Edition, with Roget's Thesaurus (indexed as a Thesaurus,
not alphabetically like a dictionary).
As books, both are comfortable hardbacks. Both are
still ~2.5" thick, 8" x 10" hardbounds with thumb indices. The CD is OK, but
requires you to exit Office to access it. Imagine if you had to exit
Office every time you wanted to use an Excel add-on to fit a line
through a bunch of points on a graph.
Any other useful choices in the "middle
ground", which can be used both as a spellchecker and a source of synonyms and
etymology? (as in today's contributions about "corollary", "lemma",
etc????)
3) Then there's the other
extreme: the CD version of the formidable, but out of date, Oxford English
Dictionary - all 200lbs of it
I don't want to go to crazy (like getting the
dysfunctional, elephantine, CD-ROMs of the full-sized
OED).
Any suggestions of a mid-level, RAM-resident,
functional dictionary/thesaurus w/ etymologies, pronunciations, and the
ability to spell-check in real time??
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2002 4:46 AM
Subject: Re: [Fractint]
JuhYhgtFFe2
> Ah, Mr. Lee, concise as ever!
>
> Andrew.
> "I
read a lot of math litriture, but don't know much about it!"
>
>
>From: "Paul N. Lee" <Paul.N.Lee@Worldnet.att.net>
> >Reply-To: fractint@mailman.xmission.com
>
>To: fractint@mailman.xmission.com
>
>Subject: Re: [Fractint] JuhYhgtFFe2
> >Date: Mon, 24 Jun 2002
04:39:03 -0500
> >
> >corollary (kôr´e-lèr-ê, kòr´-)
noun
> > plural corollaries
> > Abbr.
corol.
> > 1. A proposition that follows with little
or no proof
> > required from one
already proven.
> > 2. A deduction or an
inference.
> > 3. A natural consequence or effect; a
result.
> >
> >lemma (lèm´e) noun
> >
plural lemmas or lemmata (lèm´e-te)
> > 1. A
subsidiary proposition assumed to be valid and used to
>
> demonstrate a principal
proposition.
> > 2. A theme, an argument, or a
subject indicated in a title.
> > 3. A word or phrase
treated in a glossary or similar listing.
>
>
>
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