\lx tuat

This is the key field or record marker that Toolbox uses to keep one entry separate from another. Bound morphemes are listed with a preceding or following hyphen

\lx -oli
\lx nara-

For some languages it may be acceptable to give an inflectable citation form, such as the H-form given in Tetun for inflectable verb roots

\lx holi

representing the paradigm koli, moli, noli, holi, roli, where the linguist would tend to identify the root -oli but the community thinks in terms of holi.

Multiple word or phrasal lexemes are common.

This field is obligatory for each entry.

\hm 1
\hm 2
\hm 3

Different homonyms must be in separate entries. These will sort correctly and format as subscripts using MDF. Use only if needed. Cross-references to one of these entries should include the number, e.g. \cf asw2. When the file is converted to WORD format for printing, MDF will subscript the homonym number, e.g. See: asw². Where they occur, MDF automatically references the homonym number in the reversed finderlists.

\lx nara-
\lc naran

This gives a complete surface form of bound roots that will be printed as the headword in the final printout. The \lc form always replaces the \lx form for the printed dictionary. MDF prompts users to choose whether or not they want entries that use \lc to sort under the \lc form for the printed dictionary. If the entry is not sorted by the \lc form, it will sort under the \lx, but the printed headword will be the \lc form

\lx -angu
\lc (na)-angu

is printed between \lx ane and \lx aok; similarly

\lx -ao
\lc (beke)-ao

is printed between \lx aok and \lx ape.

Use \lc only if the \lx form is inappropriate for the printed dictionary. MDF places the contents of the \lx field as follows:

\lx -hilu
\lc na-hilu

is printed as na-hilu (from: -hilu).

\lx enaka
\ph ẽnaka

is printed as ẽnaka. The information on how to interpret the phonetic pronunciation of the practical orthography should be explained in the introduction to the dictionary. The \ph fields may also be used following the \se (subentry) field.