I've just been reading a book with words like solipsism. What the hell does that mean?

Obviously I had to pick up the dictionary and scan through until I found what the word meant. However, I didn't - I admit it: I'm too lazy to do that so I still don't know what solipsism means. It sounds great, but to me, totally meaningless. The reason why I didn't do it was because there were too many steps involved: Put the book down, Find the dictionary, pick it up, find the right page, read the description, put the dictionary back, pick up the book, find the page, re-read the sentence.

Argh! It's a nightmare. I was then thinking how much easier it would be reading books on the web, it's simple to look up definitions. Then I realised it was just as hard. Wouldn't it be nice to have an easy way to lookup a definition, what I'd like to do is to highlight a word, and press a key.

Well now I can do this. Try it out on this page, highlight a word and press the d key. There is a problem with Mozilla browsers, as I can't find any way to position to the dictionary definition by the selected text. In IE there isn't a problem.

In theory this could be incorporated on any web page just by including this script containing all the code

I would need to change the paths so that they reference this site, but that could be done.

The definitions come from www.dict.org and the code to get it from there can be viewed in the javascript files.

Here's a section of random text for you to play with:

I never spend much time in school but I taught ladies plenty. It's true I hire my body out for pay, hey hey. I've gotten burned over Cheryl Tiegs, blown up for Raquel Welch. But when I end up in the hay it's only hay, hey hey. I might jump an open drawbridge, or Tarzan from a vine. 'Cause I'm the unknown stuntman that makes Eastwood look so fine.

One for all and all for one, Muskehounds are always ready. One for all and all for one, helping everybody. One for all and all for one, it's a pretty story. Sharing everything with fun, that's the way to be. One for all and all for one, Muskehounds are always ready. One for all and all for one, helping everybody. One for all and all for one, can sound pretty corny. If you've got a problem chum, think how it could be.

Top Cat! The most effectual Top Cat! Who's intellectual close friends get to call him T.C., providing it's with dignity. Top Cat! The indisputable leader of the gang. He's the boss, he's a pip, he's the championship. He's the most tip top, Top Cat.

80 days around the world, we'll find a pot of gold just sitting where the rainbow's ending. Time - we'll fight against the time, and we'll fly on the white wings of the wind. 80 days around the world, no we won't say a word before the ship is really back. Round, round, all around the world. Round, all around the world. Round, all around the world. Round, all around the world.

Hong Kong Phooey, number one super guy. Hong Kong Phooey, quicker than the human eye. He's got style, a groovy style, and a car that just won't stop. When the going gets tough, he's really rough, with a Hong Kong Phooey chop (Hi-Ya!). Hong Kong Phooey, number one super guy. Hong Kong Phooey, quicker than the human eye. Hong Kong Phooey, he's fan-riffic!