> since the late 19th century I think 200 years is a reasonably long enough time for modern languages that I wouldn't say "recent". Modern English only just or

> since the late 19th century I think 200 years is a reasonably long enough time for modern languages that I wouldn't say "recent". Modern English only just originated ~500 years ago, between 1450-1550 around Shakespeare's time. Likewise, the "romanticists" OP refers to who changed the spelling of a different word (a news "lede", not the metal "lead") is entirely reasonable and I don't understand the author's point. Why does it matter if your perception was wrong if the word is now more uniquely identifiable and has a clearer, more concise definition? I'm always in favor of linguistic evolution. Just because you can observe it at times shouldn't be cause for alarm.