Disclosed is an electronic dictionary including a plurality of dictionary databases. In a twin retrieval using two dictionaries, a sub-dictionary according to a main dictionary is set besides the main dictionary. When a user inputs a retrieval character string, the electronic dictionary retrieves corresponding headwords from the main dictionary to produce a headword list and displays it. Furthermore, the electronic dictionary displays explanation information pertaining to one headword in the headword list. In addition to this, the electronic dictionary reads the explanation information corresponding to the headword of the main dictionary specified with a cursor from a sub-dictionary database to display the explanation information besides that of the main dictionary. If the specification of a headword of the main dictionary is changed by moving the cursor, then the electronic dictionary re-retrieves the changed headword from the sub-dictionary, and changes the explanation information of the sub-dictionary to display it.