# Need a reference reference.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-reference-reference/3715>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 5, 1999, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-reference-reference/3715 "1999-10-05T03:52:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![moriah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@moriah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moriah)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 1999, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-reference-reference/3715/1 "1999-10-05T03:52:00Z")

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The _words ending in -a_ had me thinking, are there any good resources out there (preferably free on the 'Net ;)) that allows you to look up words with parameters such  
-as how long the word is;  
-must include x y z letters;  
-letters must appear first, last, in this order;  
-etc…?

Satan mentioned his now infamous _Scrabble_ CDRom. But that limits you to words 3-15 letters long. I want to know it **all**.

Peace.

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 1999, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-reference-reference/3715/2 "1999-10-05T04:22:00Z")

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Yes. It’s called a crossword dictionary. Though I don’t know of any on-line versions.

* * *

Sue from El Paso  
[members.aol.com/majormd/index.html](http://members.aol.com/majormd/index.html)

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**Author:** ![aseymayo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e57/32.png) [@aseymayo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aseymayo)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 1999, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-reference-reference/3715/3 "1999-10-05T04:25:00Z")

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Try Onelook - you can use variables and it searches a number of on-line reference sites.  
[http://www.onelook.com/](http://www.onelook.com/)

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**Author:** ![neuro-trash\_grrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3ab097/32.png) [@neuro-trash\_grrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neuro-trash_grrrl)\
**Post date:** [October 5, 1999, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-reference-reference/3715/4 "1999-10-05T05:18:00Z")

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Go talk to Satan, and ask him what he used to generate that big ol’ list of words beginning and ending in the same letter. I hear he’s giving out 50% discounts, and will do it for only half of your soul.

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**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 1999, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-reference-reference/3715/5 "1999-10-06T05:59:00Z")

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NOT that I have anything against Satan, but trying to get a bargain from the Prince of Darkness seems likely to explode in ones face. 😉