I want to check if a string is in my XML file using ActionScript 3

XML File

    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>


    <dictionary>

        <entries>ABALONE</entries>
        <entries>ABANDON</entries>
        <entries>ABAXIAL</entries>

    </dictionary>

ActionScript 3

var myXML:XML;
var myLoader:URLLoader = new URLLoader();
myLoader.load(new URLRequest("myXML.xml"));
myLoader.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, OnloadXML);

var wordSearch:String = "ABAXIAL";

function OnloadXML(e:Event):void{

     myXML = new XML(e.target.data);

     function checkWord(searchWord:String){
         //if "searchWord" exist in the xml, then return true else return false.
     }

}

I tried for-loop but the words are just too many and it makes the graphics processing a bit laggy

I'm new to XML and ActionScript

thanks for the help.