def METHOD_NAME(root):
    '''Return the singleton SearchEngine instance for the process.
    The single SearchEngine saves settings between dialog instances.
    If there is not a SearchEngine already, make one.
    '''
    if not hasattr(root, "_searchengine"):
        root._searchengine = SearchEngine(root)
        # This creates a cycle that persists until root is deleted.
    return root._searchengine