[jontas]

That quote says it's been two and a half centuries.

[sowbug]

The reference was to general change in word usage, not to change in this word's usage.

See also https://billbennett.co.nz/2009/09/01/writing-warning/

[gommm]

Nice quote from one of the links on this page:

I think 'to be a nitpicker' is one of those irregular verbs: I am a purist, you are a pedant, they are a bunch of nitpickers.