Heathcliff's dark dwelling

[Walt Whitman]

From ''Wuthering Heights'' by Emily Brontë (chapter 1 simplified)

Heathcliff’s dark dwelling isn’t a comfortable house like Thrushcross Grange.

Is “dwelling” a synonym for “house”? Could it be used here to avoid repetition? Is it an old-fashioned word or is it still commonly used?

Thank you
WW

 

[White Hat]

Thefreedictionary.com uses 'formal literary' with this term.

 

[probus]

From ''Wuthering Heights'' by Emily Brontë (chapter 1 simplified)

Heathcliff’s dark dwelling isn’t a comfortable house like Thrushcross Grange.

Is “dwelling” a synonym for “house”? Could it be used here to avoid repetition? Is it an old-fashioned word or is it still commonly used?

Thank you
WW

1. Yes, dwelling there is synonymous with house.

2. It is slightly formal and a bit old-fashioned but not uncommon in current usage. For example Richard Attenborough on television might refer to a rabbit's hole as its dwelling.

 

[Tarheel]

@Walt Whitman I wouldn't use it in ordinary speech.

Thank you.