http://qs321.pair.com?node_id=414072
Category: Text Processing
Author/Contact Info
Description: Convenient access to dict.org from emacs, your shell, and if you like, other programs.
Use strict;
use warnings;
use Net::Dict;
use vars qw( $DICT $DICT_HOST %DICT_PARAMS );

$DICT_HOST = 'dict.org';

main( @ARGV );
exit;

sub main {
    initialize( @_ );

    for my $word ( @_ ) {
    my $definitions = $DICT->define( $word );
    for my $definition ( @$definitions ) {
        print dictionary_name( $definition->[0] )
        . "\n$definition->[1]\n";
    }
    }

    1;
}

sub initialize {
    $DICT = Net::Dict->new( $DICT_HOST,
                %DICT_PARAMS );

    $| = 1;

    1;
}

{
    my %dicts;
    sub dictionary_name {
    my $dict = shift;
    $dicts{$dict} ||= $DICT->dbTitle( $dict );
    }
}

__END__

=pod

=head1 NAME

dict - a simple client for http://dict.org

=head1 SYNOPSIS

 dict insufflation

 (define-word "insufflation")

 C-x d

=head1 EMACS BINDING

Emacs is a great place to bind all sorts things together and this is
no exception. Add this to your .emacs file to create the function
DEFINE-WORD. If you don't give it a word then it will attempt to
define whatever word is currently under your point.

 (defun define-word (input-word)
   "Define a word using http://dict.org."
   (interactive "MWord to define: ")
   (let ((buf (generate-new-buffer "*dict*"))
         (word (if (> (length input-word) 0)
                   input-word
                 (current-word))))
     (shell-command (concat "~/bin/dict " word) buf)
     buf))

The following command binds C-x d to the function.

 (global-set-key "\C-xd" 'define-word)

=end
Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: dict.org cli lookup
by belg4mit (Prior) on Dec 12, 2004 at 23:25 UTC
    Question, why on earth would you do this instead of using the dict protocol? Say with Net::Dict?

    --
    I'm not belgian but I play one on TV.

      When I asked people if they knew of a dict.org command line client, no one mentioned that Net::Dict existed. Here's a copy of the original source.

        Well a CLI is a horse of a different color altogether. The reference server implementation comes with a good client. From the links section off the main page ftp://ftp.dict.org/pub/dict

        --
        I'm not belgian but I play one on TV.

Re: dict.org cli lookup
by tmoertel (Chaplain) on Dec 13, 2004 at 02:58 UTC