dictionarymacos
So I'm riding the Mavericks to a rodeo – OS X 10.9.2 🙂
The built-in dictionary is way cool, but is there a way to browse all the words in the dictionary? Like, there will be a list of all words on the left of the screen, from "A" to the very last word, say "zygote (or not^^)". So can I browse all words, rather than look up a certain word?
My workaround has been to add a keyboard shortcut that replaces the text ill with I'll any time I add it. Not perfect, but as a stop-gap it will do.
To add the shortcut go to Settings -> General -> Keyboard and scroll to the bottom of the page. You will see an Add New Shortcut... button. Press it.
In the Shortcut configuration page type I'll in to the Phrase entry box and ill in to the Shortcut entry box and press the Save button.
Now any time you type ill it will auto-correct to I'll.
You can install the old dictionary from your old OS X install disk.
Here's what I did with my Snow Leopard disk on my Mavericks installation:
Turn ON hidden file visibility in Finder by typing this into Terminal:
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles Yes
Rename /Library/Dictionaries/New Oxford American Dictionary.dictionary to something like New Oxford American Dictionary-orig.dictionary, since you'll be putting the older OS X version of this dictionary here.
Find the dictionary package. I found mine here:
/Volumes/Mac OS X Install DVD/System/Installation/Packages/OxfordDictionaries.pkg
drag this package into Pacifist
You can turn off HIDDEN FILE view by typing into Terminal:
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles No
Now, I have the syllables displayed on Mavericks!
Best Answer
I think the best you can do in the built-in Dictionary.app is type a single letter in the search box, like "a" and get a list of up to a 1000 words that begin with it.
You could also write a simple app of your own and use Apple's API for accessing the system dictionaries: https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/DictionaryServicesProgGuide/access/access.html