The Shift in the Use of Very

In Chaucer's time, very meant not exactly true, but more degree. By the 17th century, that's the majority use of very and the use where it means true or actual becomes its minority use. So you can still use it that way today. But now what's happening is so many people are using it that we notice it and it bothers us. It's just because we're in that moment where it's changing rather than having the change happen 100 years ago or so.