How to use development database for only one model in Rspec/Cucumber?

I have a dictionary application which has a lot of word definitions in the development database. When I'm writing my Cucumber/Rspec tests I usually populate the test db with a few words that I know I'm gonna be using in the test. However, it would be great if I could access the development db for only one model (Word) to check the word definition, and use the test db for everything else. How can that be set up?