www.wordiq.com
Not only does it have a very thorough dictionary function complete with sentences employing the word as well as its historical context, but it has a phenomenal encyclopedia where you can type in any word, name or phrase and be treated to substantial and well-written essays on everything from Scottish history, to rationalism and empiricism, to Hollywood, to the Mayflower Compact, to synaesthesia, to The Great Gatsby, to the Lamarckian precursors to Darwinian evolutionary theory, to the historical antecedents of democracy and communism. What's more, these encyclopedic entries are peppered with references to related people, ideas and themes which are hyperlinked and accessible by a mere click of the mouse, leading to other informative entries about them. Man, the wealth of information is just awesome...
Yeah, it's just an encyclopedia at base, but it has links to all the relevant people, places, ideas, and events related to the topic you're reading up on. On top of that, the information is well-written in a clear, concise manner and organized very well. You start with one topic, and by clicking on the links within each essay you're whisked around to various fields of interest to fill your mind with. Neat. I just wasted an hour on this and it seemed like 10 minutes.
Very, very cool...at least for nerds like me. Figured I'd give you clowns a heads-up.
Not only does it have a very thorough dictionary function complete with sentences employing the word as well as its historical context, but it has a phenomenal encyclopedia where you can type in any word, name or phrase and be treated to substantial and well-written essays on everything from Scottish history, to rationalism and empiricism, to Hollywood, to the Mayflower Compact, to synaesthesia, to The Great Gatsby, to the Lamarckian precursors to Darwinian evolutionary theory, to the historical antecedents of democracy and communism. What's more, these encyclopedic entries are peppered with references to related people, ideas and themes which are hyperlinked and accessible by a mere click of the mouse, leading to other informative entries about them. Man, the wealth of information is just awesome...
Yeah, it's just an encyclopedia at base, but it has links to all the relevant people, places, ideas, and events related to the topic you're reading up on. On top of that, the information is well-written in a clear, concise manner and organized very well. You start with one topic, and by clicking on the links within each essay you're whisked around to various fields of interest to fill your mind with. Neat. I just wasted an hour on this and it seemed like 10 minutes.
Very, very cool...at least for nerds like me.
Figured I'd give you clowns a heads-up.