TheSage English Dictionary and Thesaurus
TheSage English Dictionary and Thesaurus demystifies the English language by providing you with word definitions, example uses, synonyms, hypernyms, hyponyms, and more, and also features a handy shortcut that allows you to look up words from any application in Windows.
PROS
Portable version: During the installation process you are given the choice of whether to install TheSage English Dictionary and Thesaurus the usual way or to make a portable version. Making a portable version allows you to copy the app to a thumb drive and take it with you wherever you go.
One-click lookup: The app’s one-click system allows you to look up definitions through a configurable keyboard shortcut as well as by clicking with your mouse while holding down a user-selected modifier key on the keyboard. The software is able to define words that appear in Word and Internet Explorer, but it doesn’t work with file names in Windows Explorer.
Spoken previews and offline support: Like any self-respecting modern dictionary, it can pronounce the words you look up. It will also continue to function even when you are not connected to the Internet.
CONS
Confusing organization: It took us a little time to get used to the different color-coded sections for the dictionary and the thesaurus when looking up a word. We feel that having section breaks or even individual tabs would have been a better approach.
Crudely integrated one-click: If you intend to take advantage of the app’s one-click feature, we strongly recommend changing the default keyboard shortcuts and modifier keys, because they overlap with native OS functionality and can cause unexpected behavior.
BOTTOM LINE
Although TheSage English Dictionary and Thesaurus offers good functionality and quality word definitions, we feel that it is not integrated as well as it could be, especially when we compare it to solutions like Mac OS X’s word and phrase lookup feature. Feel free to try it, but don’t be surprised if the interface confuses you.