Summary

The object of Dictionary Devil is to correctly complete eight definitions and match them to their headwords before time runs out. Players must insert deleted words, move definitions from one headword to another, and complete one definition that is missing its headword.

Instructions

1. Click "Start."
2. You will see eight words in a list, each with a partial definition below it. Some definitions are under the correct headwords; some are not.

3. If you want to move definitions:

   • Place your cursor on the left-hand border of the game screen; a small arrow appears. Move the arrow up or down the border until it's lined up with the definition you want.
   • Click and hold down the left-hand button of your mouse. Once the headword above the definition is highlighted in red, you can then drag the definition to another headword. Then, drop it into place by releasing button on mouse.

4. If you want to move words from the word-pool:

   • Click on a word in the word-pool at the bottom of the screen and hold down the left button on your mouse. Drag and drop the word to a blank in a definition.
5. After you've put all of the words from the word-pool into the definitions, if any are incorrect, you'll see a message in the word-pool which tells you how many words and definitions are incorrect.
6. You can remove a word from a definition by clicking and dragging it back to the word-pool.
7. The game ends when all eight headwords have been matched to their correctly worded definitions, or time runs out. The missing headword will appear when the game is won.
8. Click "Play Again" to restart game.

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Game Tips

Game Play

• All words from the word-pool must be used.
• Only words from the word-pool can be moved; headwords cannot be moved.
• For the missing headword, the number of X's corresponds to the number of letters in the word.
• If you misplace a word in a definition, click on it to return it to the word-pool at the bottom of the screen.
• Once the puzzle is complete, a message in the word-pool will tell you how many are incorrect.

Strategy

• Read all headwords before pressing START.
• Read all definitions quickly before placing words. Unless you know the missing headword, leave it for last.
• If any definitions look obvious to you, place the words in them first, then fill in the other definitions.
• Use grammatical clues to help you place words (for instance, if you see the article "an", the word that follows most likely starts with a vowel).
• Look for context clues that can help you place words (e.g., if the word "food" is used somewhere in the definition, the word "snack" might fill in a blank; if the part of the definition that shows ends with "flavored with" look for food item names to fill in the blanks).
• Use the word that is included in the definition to help determine the missing word (e.g., if a definition is "conspicuously or _____ ______," it is likely that the first missing word is an adverb and the 2nd is an adjective or verb).
• If some of the words available to fill in the blanks are unfamiliar, use Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary to check their meanings before trying to place them.
• Remember that the words available to fill in the blanks may have more than one meaning or grammatical function.
• If you're completely stumped, click "Answers."

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