familiar
Use familiar in a sentence
yər adjective
1.
commonly or generally known or seen: a familiar sight.
2.
well-acquainted; thoroughly conversant: to be familiar with a subject.
3.
informal; easygoing; unceremonious; unconstrained: to write in a familiar style.
4.
closely intimate or personal: a familiar friend; to be on familiar terms.
5.
unduly intimate; too personal; taking liberties; presuming: The duchess disliked familiar servants.
noun
8.
a familiar friend or associate.
9.
Witchcraft and Demonology.
a.
an animal, as a cat, that embodies a supernatural spirit and aids a witch in performing magic.
10.
Roman Catholic Church.
a.
an officer of the Inquisition, employed to arrest accused or suspected persons.
b.
a person who belongs to the household of the pope or of a bishop, rendering domestic though not menial service.
00:10
familiar
is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
Origin:
1300–50; Middle English < Latin familiāris of a household (see family, -ar1); replacing Middle English famulier < Middle French < Latin, as above
1300–50; Middle English < Latin familiāris of a household (see family, -ar1); replacing Middle English famulier < Middle French < Latin, as above
Related forms
fa·mil·iar·ly, adverb
fa·mil·iar·ness, noun
non·fa·mil·iar, adjective
non·fa·mil·iar·ly, adverb
o·ver·fa·mil·iar, adjective
o·ver·fa·mil·iar·ly, adverb
pre·fa·mil·iar, adjective
pre·fa·mil·iar·ly, adverb
qua·si-fa·mil·iar, adjective
qua·si-fa·mil·iar·ly, adverb
ul·tra·fa·mil·iar, adjective
Synonyms
4. Familiar, confidential, intimate suggest a long association between persons. Familiar means well-acquainted with another person: a familiar friend. Confidential suggests a sense of mutual trust that extends to the sharing of confidences and secrets: a confidential adviser. Intimate suggests close acquaintance or connection, often based on interest, sympathy, or affection: intimate and affectionate letters. 5. forward, bold.
4. Familiar, confidential, intimate suggest a long association between persons. Familiar means well-acquainted with another person: a familiar friend. Confidential suggests a sense of mutual trust that extends to the sharing of confidences and secrets: a confidential adviser. Intimate suggests close acquaintance or connection, often based on interest, sympathy, or affection: intimate and affectionate letters. 5. forward, bold.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To familiar
Collins
World English Dictionary
familiar (fəˈmɪlɪə) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj (foll by with) | |
| 1. | well-known; easily recognized: a familiar figure |
| 2. | frequent or customary: a familiar excuse |
| 3. | acquainted |
| 4. | friendly; informal |
| 5. | close; intimate |
| 6. | more intimate than is acceptable; presumptuous |
| 7. | an archaic word for familial |
| —n | |
| 8. | Also called: familiar spirit a supernatural spirit often assuming animal form, supposed to attend and aid a witch, wizard, etc |
| 9. | a person, attached to the household of the pope or a bishop, who renders service in return for support |
| 10. | an officer of the Inquisition who arrested accused persons |
| 11. | a friend or frequent companion |
| [C14: from Latin familiāris domestic, from familia | |
| fa'miliarly | |
| —adv | |
| fa'miliarness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
familiar
mid-14c., "intimate, very friendly," from O.Fr. familier, from L. familiaris "domestic." The sense gradually broadened. Of things, from late 15c. The noun meaning "demon, evil spirit that answers one's call" is from 1580s.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia
familiar
in Western demonology, small animal or imp kept as a witch's attendant, given to her by the devil or inherited from another witch. The familiar was a low-ranking demon that assumed any animal shape, such as a toad, dog, insect, or black cat. Sometimes the familiar was described as a grotesque creature of fantasy, an amalgam of several creatures.
Learn more about familiar with a free trial on Britannica.com.
Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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Example sentences
The players not only compete, they enact a familiar ceremony that reaffirms common values.
Many other strange creatures turn out to be familiar faces in disguise.
The stellar halo is debris that surrounds our familiar white swirl of stars.
If students are not already familiar with the concept of a watershed, briefly introduce the topic.
Idioms & Phrases
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