Accessing OS X dictionary with Python

Nov 2015

#dictionary
#osx
#python

A little script that allows to access the OS X Dictionary app using Python.

Tip: make the script executable and add an alias for it in order to be able to call it from the command line easily.

	#!/usr/bin/env python

	"""
	# Version
	2021-08-31

	# Tested on
	Python 3.9


	# Originally Modified from
	http://macscripter.net/viewtopic.php?id=26675
	http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/90040/look-up-a-word-in-dictionary-app-in-terminal


	# HowTo

	chmod 755 define.py # make file executable
	alias define="'/Users/me/Script/define.py'" # => add to .bash_profile

	-> then (from command line)
	define recursive # or any other word

	-> output ..

	Dictionary entry for:

	recursive \| rɪˈkəːsɪv \| adjective characterized by recurrence or repetition.
	• Mathematics & Linguistics relating to or involving the repeated application of a rule, definition, or procedure to successive results: this restriction ensures that the grammar is recursive.
	• Computing relating to or involving a program or routine of which a part requires the application of the whole, so that its explicit interpretation requires in general many successive executions: a recursive subroutine.

	DERIVATIVES
	recursively \| rɪˈkəːsɪvli \| adverb

	ORIGIN
	late 18th century (in the general sense): from late Latin recurs- ‘returned’ (from the verb recurrere ‘run back’) + -ive. Specific uses have arisen in the 20th century.

	---------------------------------
	"""



	import sys

	try:
	from DictionaryServices import *
	except:
	print("WARNING: The pyobjc Python library was not found. You can install it by typing: 'pip install -U pyobjc'")
	print("..................\n")


	try:
	from colorama import Fore, Back, Style
	except:
	print("WARNING: The colorama Python library was not found. You can install it by typing: 'pip install colorama'")
	print("..................\n")





	def main():
	"""
	define.py

	Access the default OSX dictionary


	2021-08-31
	-improved so to work with Python 3.9
	2015-11-27
	-added colors via colorama

	"""
	try:
	searchword = sys.argv[1]
	except IndexError:
	errmsg = 'You did not enter any terms to look up in the Dictionary.'
	print(errmsg)
	sys.exit()
	wordrange = (0, len(searchword))
	dictresult = DCSCopyTextDefinition(None, searchword, wordrange)
	if not dictresult:
	errmsg = "'%s' not found in Dictionary." % (searchword)
	print(errmsg)
	else:
	# print(dictresult)
	s = dictresult

	#split numbered items up to ten (hackish..)
	for n in reversed(range(1, 11)):
	new_n = doColor(f"\n{str(n)} ", "red")
	s = s.replace(f" {str(n)} ", new_n)

	for x in ["noun", "adverb", "adjective"]:
	particle = doColor(x, "green")
	s = s.replace(x, particle)

	bullet = doColor("\n •", "red")
	s = s.replace('•', bullet) # bullet

	phrases_header = doColor("\n\nPHRASES\n", "important")
	s = s.replace('PHRASES', phrases_header)

	phrasal_verbs_header = doColor("\n\nPHRASAL VERBS\n", "important")
	s = s.replace('PHRASAL VERBS', phrasal_verbs_header)

	derivatives_header = doColor("\n\nDERIVATIVES\n", "important")
	s = s.replace('DERIVATIVES', derivatives_header)

	origin_header = doColor("\n\nORIGIN\n", "important")
	s = s.replace('ORIGIN', origin_header)

	print(doColor("Dictionary entry for:\n", "red"))
	print(s)
	print("\n---------------------------------")




	def doColor(s, style=None):
	"""
	util for returning a colored string
	if colorama is not installed, FAIL SILENTLY
	"""
	try:
	if style == "comment":
	s = Style.DIM + s + Style.RESET_ALL
	elif style == "important":
	s = Style.BRIGHT + s + Style.RESET_ALL
	elif style == "normal":
	s = Style.RESET_ALL + s + Style.RESET_ALL
	elif style == "red":
	s = Fore.RED + s + Style.RESET_ALL
	elif style == "green":
	s = Fore.GREEN + s + Style.RESET_ALL
	except:
	pass
	return s



	if __name__ == '__main__':
	main()

view raw define.py hosted with ❤ by GitHub

Cite this blog post:

Michele Pasin. Accessing OS X dictionary with Python. Blog post on www.michelepasin.org. Published on Nov. 28, 2015.

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Accessing OS X dictionary with Python

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