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familiar

 - 5 dictionary results

fa⋅mil⋅iar

  [fuh-mil-yer]
Use familiar in a Sentence
–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.
6. domesticated; tame.
7. of or pertaining to a family or household.
–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.
b. familiar spirit.
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.
Origin:
1300–50; ME < L familiāris of a household (see family, -ar 1 ); r. ME famulier < MF < L, as above

Related forms:
fa⋅mil⋅iar⋅ly, adverb
fa⋅mil⋅iar⋅ness, noun

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.

familiar spirit

 
–noun
a supernatural spirit or demon supposed to attend on or serve a person.
Also called familiar.

Origin:
1555–65
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To familiar
fa·mil·iar   (fə-mĭl'yər)   
adj.  

  1. Often encountered or seen. See Synonyms at common.

  2. Having fair knowledge; acquainted: was familiar with those roads.

  3. Of established friendship; intimate: on familiar terms.

  4. Natural and unstudied; informal: lectured in a familiar style.

  5. Taking undue liberties; presumptuous: Students should not be familiar toward an instructor.

  6. Familial.

  7. Domesticated; tame. Used of animals.

n.  

  1. A close friend or associate.

  2. An attendant spirit, often taking animal form.

  3. One who performs domestic service in the household of a high official.

  4. A person who frequents a place.


[Middle English, from Old French familier, from Latin familiāris, domestic, from familia, family; see family.]
fa·mil'iar·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Idioms & Phrases

familiar

see have a familiar ring.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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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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