Happens a lot with popular words. People use them in slightly broader and broader contexts until eventually the word can no longer communicate an idea as precis

Happens a lot with popular words. People use them in slightly broader and broader contexts until eventually the word can no longer communicate an idea as precise as it initially could. Now that I think about it, I wonder if that's why writers like to use words that are uncommon in general conversation. Since they're not used casually, they haven't been watered down and thus do a better job of getting ideas across to the reader.