Words in Mark Twain's language
We read fiction in our language (Mandarin Chinese) one or two centuries ago without difficulty in understanding, although we have a strong feeling that it is different than that we speak and write today. We are sure that some words in the old writing is not commonly used in the modern language.
Is it the same case with native English speakers?
A lot of fiction brought out one hundred years ago is still popular among English learners (and readers) in China.
Some words we cannot find in small-medium-sized dictionaries. So I suppose that these words are not commonly used in the contemporary English. I think it's easy to judge the actual situation for native English speakers, but a foreigner cannot easily do it.
Sometimes a learner learns a word and uses it in conmmunication with native English speakers, and makes the latter surprised, or even confused sometimes, because they knows the word is not used in modern time, or they even do not know know it.
Here are a few words from the-------
Here are a few words from (the first three or four paragraphs of) the short story 'Running for Governor' by Mark Twain. Are they used it in the present day?
1. RILE:
2. Bandy (about/around):
3. meager:
4. suffrages: ( what is the common express for 'affirmative votes', does suffrages still do?)