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by anavette 1058 days ago
I've used 3+ dictionary apps and I prefer this Webster's Writer's Dictionary app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/websters-writers-dictionary/id...

The definitions, while slightly archaic, are evocative of the etymological valences in ways that other dictionary apps (Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary, Dictionary.com) lack. The WWD also has a pleasingly clean UI, smooth interaction, and no ads.

Special mention of Etymonline's etymology app.
2 comments
cratermoon 1058 days ago
You can install the Webster 1913 dictionary as one of the dictionaries in MacOS and then use it anywhere the dictionary is available, including the cmd-crtl-D shortcut. https://github.com/cmod/websters-1913

I agree 100% about the etymologies.

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majewsky 1058 days ago
Do you have any experience using Wiktionary, and if so, where does it fall on your spectrum? I personally use Wiktionary a lot because it seems adequate from what I tell and it covers all the multiple languages that I'm interested in.
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anavette 1057 days ago
I frequently use Wiktionary on desktop. I find it invaluable for tracing certain elements of etymology, but still largely prefer Etymonline.

It's worth noting that I access these things most frequently on mobile, so an app (with a clean, ad-free, streamlined UI) is paramount.

Your comment sparked me to seek out whether Wiktionary has an app— and apparently someone has built this iPhone app for a reader view, which at first use appears identical to the desktop view: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/wiktionary-reader/id984975341

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