What has happened to CNTL-F?

control-f (or command-f on Macs) to find text is not a feature of WordPress, it’s a feature of the browser you’re using. If it suddenly changed, it was likely a browser update.

I have solved this aggravation! As soon as I leave the full screen edit and I update my work, the regular crtl-f box appears. If I have not saved my work, the centered box for find and replace appears with its opaque apparition… I just have to save my work to get rid of it. Interesting. Is someone purposely coding WP for personality quirks?

Does the issue persist with all plugins deactivated and the default Twenty Fourteen theme active?

I don’t know but am too lazy and indolent to test further. You would have to give me an inspiring speech to proceed further. I did deactivate easy Fancybox and that did not solve it. I am just ready to accept that WP has a new feature to remind me to save often.
The exact same behavior is in both macro edit and the small edit window and the regular find and replace function returns- no window box and apparition- as soon as I update from either editing window.

You would have to give me an inspiring speech to proceed further.

If you don’t troubleshoot by trying with your plugins disabled and Twenty Fourteen theme active, you’ll never stop it. ??

I am just ready to accept that WP has a new feature to remind me to save often.

I can assure you that is not the case. ??