Quote Originally Posted by Inego View Post
I have highlighted words and phrases that are perfectly normal in modern Russian.
I agree with you on the fact that all the highlighted words are understandable to any Russian person.

Yet I am trying to imagine who could say them without, maybe, that ironic meaning.

во всей округе - maybe some older people who live in the country only. Others would say вокруг, поблизости, по соседству, недалеко, во всем районе.

склонность - no one in this meaning. Симпатия, любовь, привязанность.

нежели - no one. Чем.

видались - Hmm. Maybe in the negation like мы давно не видались. Still my daughters would never say that. Не виделись.

сперва - maybe, though it sounds oldish. Сначала, в первую очередь, для начала.

весьма - never and no one. Очень, в значительной степени.


Though, as I said, all these words may be used to make people smile, with irony.

Mr. Crocodile has recently been quoting professor Preobrazhenskiy's words "В топку ее, немедленно." I'm not that resolute. Let Pushkin's story live, but not on this site.