The search engine tries to match two independant variables -- the searchstring and the list of parishes -- with the corresponding parts in the dictionary entry. Entries matching both criteria are reported.

The searchstring

is actually a Perl expression. As a result, you can query practically everything imaginable and also that sometimes you get Perl errors at the output. If this happens, revise your search. The only exception here is the empty box that matches every query and provides a convenient way to ignore this field. Headwords and the explanatory part (if present) are always separated with double quotes sign ("). Examples:

: dictionary entries containing string 'kala'.

: dictionary entries containing string 'kala' in the body of the entry.
\" quotes start the explanatory part of the dictionary entry .* is any string, may be empty kala required substring

: headwords ending with 'ma' or 'mä' (i.e. verbs).
^ starts the dictionary entry \w+ any string consisting of characters (ma|mä) string 'ma' or string 'mä' (\s|$) space character or end of line

The list of parishes

may contain arbitrary number of parish abbreviations. When searching full dialects (Mulgi, Tartu, Saare etc) it is convenient to use abbreviations that map to a number of parishes. See the full list or abbreviations. The empty box maps to all 116 parishes, but only in the first filter. You have to use "e" to get full list in the subsequent filters. The case is not important. In such queries the min-max fields come handy. If you search for one parish only, the required fields are meaningless (min=1 by default and max is not applicable). Entering higher value in the others-min field results in wide-spread dialect words that are also found in the specified parish. Lowering others-max value results in dialect words found only in the specified parish and in limited number of other parishes. Mid-range searches use both required and others min-max fields. Examples:

Search for words found in Viru-Nigula parish and no more than 5 other parishes:
list of parishes:
required min: max: others min: max:

Search for words found in Viru-Nigula and Kuusalu parishes and there only:
list of parishes:
required min: max: others min: max:

Search for words found mainly in the Saare dialect. Note that you must first look up the number of parishes in the dialect (in this case 16).
list of parishes:
required min: max: others min: max:

Using the second filter

The second and, why not, the trird etc filter are used when your query must test for the presence of the word in two dialects independantly. Negative queries also fill in here. Examples:

Search for words found Saare dialect (say 6 out of 16) AND in Häädemeeste parish (required).
list of parishes:
required min: max: others min: max:
list of parishes:
required min: max: others min: max:

Search for words somewhat spread in Saare dialect (say 6 out of 16) BUT NOT in Ranniku dialect (we allow 1 out of 6).
list of parishes:
required min: max: others min: max:
list of parishes:
required min: max: others min: max: