**A case study to Truth by Popularity

My friend loves making the point that 99% of the time people misuse the word "peruse." He's right. And it's pretty funny. The real definition of peruse means to read thoroughly or very carefully. What it has come to mean in almost every circle is to browse or skim. A 180 degree reversal. I had no idea until my friend pointed me to its spot in the dictionary. My entire life I spoke under this misconception. How? I have no idea. How did I begin using any word? I guess assimilation. In this case though I got it wrong because the people who spoke around me got it wrong. 
At this point however, are people actually using the word peruse wrong? Based on context you know what they mean when they say peruse. Should you bother correcting them then? "Correct one correct the world!"
 
Should it matter what the dictionary says? If more people use the word opposite of its intended definition can we then change the definition? But how do you figure out if that is true? Based on my own small sampling, more people misuse peruse than those who don't. 

Languages are evolving institutions. Sometimes the evolutionary jumps make sense and take on new meaning over time based on adaptations to the environment. Other times the word genes mutate, like in the case of "peruse." Who are we to hold on to the past? Truth changes. Popularity changes it.