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Change the font of pop-up dictionary (look up)?

I believe you know what I mean, but in case you do not, I mean this:

http://www.macosxtips.co.uk/index_files/three-finger-tap-dictionary-wikipedia-li on.php


One of the greatest features of Lion I like is the pop-up dictionary. Since I am not a native English speaker, I use this feature a lot, and it is very very helpful and convenient. But the only thing that bugs me is that I cannot find any way to customise it.

  • The black text on the translucent gray background makes it difficult to read depending on the background of the application. I want to change the background colour and the opacity.
  • The text is too small. It does not change with the text size of the application. I want to enlarge the text size.


Is there any way to achieve this or is this another example of Apple's infamous use-it-as-it-is-or-get-lost feature?

Posted on Feb 14, 2012 10:45 AM

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Posted on Nov 22, 2017 4:54 AM

In macOS High Sierra the location of the files has changed. And maybe also the structure too. The files are now under:

/System/Library/Assets/com_apple_MobileAsset_DictionaryServices_dictionaryOSX/

Why 'MobileAsset' I have no idea. But the files are not editable even using sudo or sudo su.


I really want to change these setting the Japanese-English dictionary as the kanji is just way too small for a learner to identify.

11 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Nov 22, 2017 4:54 AM in response to lnzju

In macOS High Sierra the location of the files has changed. And maybe also the structure too. The files are now under:

/System/Library/Assets/com_apple_MobileAsset_DictionaryServices_dictionaryOSX/

Why 'MobileAsset' I have no idea. But the files are not editable even using sudo or sudo su.


I really want to change these setting the Japanese-English dictionary as the kanji is just way too small for a learner to identify.

Feb 14, 2012 11:22 AM in response to Jeong-hun Sin

Yes, that's what it looks like on mine also. What I'm saying is that without being privy to Apple's feedback files, there's no way to know if folks who didn't like filed feedback or not. If you take the attitude that just because it hasn't been changed, "Then, are there few people who want to enlarge the size of the font in pop-up dictionary" and don't file you do yourself a disservice.

Nov 29, 2012 6:22 PM in response to Jeong-hun Sin

I was facing the same annoying problem, and found the post with no answer.

However, I did figure out the trick.

User uploaded file


I'm using "Oxford Dictionary of English" as my default dictionary, which is the default for most OS X users.

Then the format file for the popup is "/Library/Dictionaries/Oxford Dictionary of English.dictionary/Contents/DefaultStyle.css".


You can edit the file to get your desired effects. Attached with the changes I did. (You'll need to reopen your browser after editing the file)

User uploaded file

Jan 7, 2016 2:43 AM in response to kain10

This works the best for me:


body {

font-family: Baskerville;

font-size: 15pt;

margin-left: 0.9em;

margin-right: 0em;

margin-top: 0.5em;

margin-bottom: 0em;

}


Also, it seems that in El Capitan there is a little different path to the DefaultStyle.css file:

/Library/Dictionaries/Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus.dictionary/Contents/Resources/DefaultStyle.css

Also, you have to change this in each dictionary.

Change the font of pop-up dictionary (look up)?

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