1. A text index, comprising a data structure stored in a memory for access by at least one application program being executed on a data processing system, for use in the preparation of semantically associated text searches of electronic documents, said index comprising: a. At least one content record corresponding to an electronic document, which content record would identify at least one text search term present within the electronic document; b. At least one term association record connecting a text search tern present within an electronic document identified by content record with a semantic definition of that term; c. At least one content association record linking a term association record with a content record.