1. A method, in a data processing system, for generating an electronic document, comprising: receiving textual content for the electronic document; receiving a selection of a term in the textual content; receiving a dictionary definition for the selected term; storing the dictionary definition in a transient document associated electronic dictionary that is linked to the electronic document; and storing the electronic document and the transient document associated electronic dictionary in association with one another such that the transient document associated electronic dictionary is distributed along with the electronic document to one or more recipient computer systems.