1. A method for recognizing cursive handwritten words from stroke data, said method comprising the steps of: accepting digital information representing a sequence of points including a beginning point and an end point; selecting as a candidate word the sequence of points bounded by said beginning point and said ending point; replacing said candidate word sequence with a first plurality of metastrokes, said first plurality of metastrokes representing said candidate word sequence; compiling a list of possible matching word metastrokes using a dictionary of whole word metastrokes and said first plurality of metastrokes; comparing a first possible matching word metastrokes from said list of possible matching word metastrokes with said first plurality of metastrokes; computing a first word metric based on said comparison; and outputting a first possible matching word if said first word metric exceeds a predetermined threshold, said first possible matching word representing said first matching word metastrokes.