Master Every Word.
Your Own Personal Lexicon.
The ultimate macOS vocabulary companion. Combines macOS system dictionary with cloud API fallback, rich Datamuse thesaurus, instant IPA audio pronunciation, and on-deviceApple Intelligence insights — completely offline & private.
Experience Personal Dictionary
Right in Your Browser.
Click between words, test the audio pronunciation with Web Speech, filter the vocabulary, and explore dual-source definitions alongside on-device Apple Intelligence.
Personal Dictionary — Sequoia Editionventure
Dual-Source Definitions
macOS System Dictionary + API- A risky or daring journey or undertaking.
- A commercial enterprise or business undertaking involving considerable financial or operational risk.
- To dare to do or say something that may be considered audacious or controversial.
Apple Intelligence Insights
On-Device Foundation ModelsThink of a venture like jumping into something exciting but uncertain — like launching a startup or venturing into the deep woods with a compass.
Launching their open-source macOS app was an ambitious venture, but one that soon gained thousands of dedicated writers and linguists.
Remember: 'Venture' shares its root with 'adVENTURE' — both require daring courage!
Use 'joint venture' when two companies collaborate on a project; use 'venture forth' for dramatic or poetic movement.
Rich Thesaurus
Datamuse API (Flow Layout)Real-World Usage Examples
Literary & Modern Context- "He invested all his savings into an AI venture that paid off handsomely."
- "She ventured into uncharted territory with her groundbreaking research."
- "Few entrepreneurs dared to venture into the space industry before the new wave."
Everything You Need
To Build an Exceptional Lexicon.
Three data sources, intelligent fallback merging, and zero cloud lock-in. No monthly subscriptions, no intrusive ads, and no internet required for core features.
Dual-Source Definition Engine
Never hit a blank definition. Seamlessly queries the built-in macOS System Dictionary via DCSCopyTextDefinition and falls back to Free Dictionary API when needed. Automatically parses and merges multiple parts of speech.
Menu Bar Quick Add
Copy any word in Safari, Xcode, or Books. Tap the persistent 📚 menu bar tray icon and press Enter. It automatically pastes, fetches definitions, and saves to your library.
20+ Synonyms & Antonyms
Deepen your writing nuance with Datamuse API integration. Features a custom native SwiftUI FlowLayout rendering flowing tag chips with part-of-speech context.
12 Tailored Categories & Smart Organization
Keep your vocabulary cleanly partitioned by domain. Categorize words in one tap, mark favorites with a star, and sort dynamically by recency or alphabetical order.
IPA & Audio Pronunciation
Hear native speech audio playback powered by AVFoundation. Includes exact International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcriptions for flawless pronunciation.
Private, Local & Resilient
Your personal vocabulary never leaves your Mac. Powered by Apple SwiftData, your words are saved locally with immediate lookup and zero third-party tracking.
Supercharged by Apple Intelligence.
Vocabulary learning reimagined with native on-device Foundation Models. Generate contextual pedagogical insights for every word you save —100% private, zero cloud latency, and works completely offline.
Simple Explanation
Plain-English clarityBypasses stiff academic dictionary jargon. Translates complex linguistic definitions into everyday conceptual language you can instantly visualize.
Instead of 'a speculative venture subject to probabilistic variance', Apple Intelligence explains: 'Like setting up a hot chocolate stand in winter — exciting, but you are not yet sure how many people will walk by.'
Memorable Sentence
Vivid retention narrativesGenerates evocative, story-driven sentences rather than bland textbook samples. Contextualizes the word within sensory, dramatic, or modern scenarios.
'The team's midnight software deployment was a daring venture into uncharted territory, with millions watching the live dashboard.'
Memory Trick (Mnemonic)
Cognitive anchors & etymologyUncovers hidden etymology, sound associations, and visual mnemonics so the word sticks in long-term memory after a single reading.
'VENTURE connects directly to adVENTURE and inVENT: all three require stepping boldly into the unknown with courage.'
Contextual Usage Tip
Nuance & stylistic registerGuides you on when and where to employ the word. Identifies whether it fits formal speeches, academic papers, casual dialogue, or poetic verse.
'Pair with prepositions: venture INTO (enter boldly), venture ON (stake money/pride), or venture TO DO (hesitantly attempt).'
Engineered for Pure Performance
Native macOS Architecture.
Zero Electron bloat. Built from scratch with Swift 6 and SwiftUI for instantaneous launch, featherlight memory footprint, and deep macOS system integration.
SwiftUI
NativeModern declarative interface featuring glassmorphic components, custom FlowLayout tags, and smooth Sequoia micro-animations.
SwiftData
NativeZero-latency, schema-backed offline database. Automatic indexing, relationships, and lightning-fast full-text searches.
CoreServices
NativeDirect C-level bridge via DCSCopyTextDefinition into macOS built-in system dictionary bundles with complete offline access.
Dictionary API
NativeSeamless fallback pipeline providing multi-sense definitions, phonetic IPA strings, and audio URLs without registration.
Datamuse REST API
NativeFast semantic synonym and antonym clustering algorithm pulling the 20 most relevant contextually matched terms.
Foundation Models
NativeApple Intelligence framework executing on the Apple Silicon Neural Engine for instant zero-cloud learning insights.
AVFoundation
NativeHardware-accelerated MP3 audio streaming and playback buffer with automatic volume ducking and status delegates.
NSStatusBar & Services
NativePersistent menu bar extra with clipboard auto-paste, and macOS Contextual Services menu integration.
Download Personal Dictionary
Free & Open Source on macOS.
Built with care for writers, students, researchers, and polyglots. No subscriptions, no accounts, and 100% private.
Download the Disk Image
Click the download button above to get the official Personal-Dictionary-v1.0.1.dmg (only 3.9 MB).
Drag to Applications
Double-click the downloaded .dmg file, then drag the Personal Dictionary icon into your Applications folder.
First Launch (Gatekeeper)
Right-click the app icon in Applications and select Open to approve Gatekeeper for open-source software.
Enable Menu Bar Quick Add
Click the 📚 icon in your menu bar and check "Launch at Login" so your dictionary is always one keystroke away.
# Clone the official repository
git clone https://github.com/HeyShinde/Personal-Dictionary.git
cd Personal-Dictionary
# Open in Xcode and press Cmd+R to build & run
open "Personal Dictionary.xcodeproj"