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overfamiliar

 - 3 dictionary results

fa⋅mil⋅iar

  [fuh-mil-yer]
Use overfamiliar 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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To overfamiliar
o·ver·fa·mil·iar   (ō'vər-fə-mĭl'yər)   
adj.  Too familiar, as:
a. Exceedingly common or ordinary: overfamiliar sayings.
o'ver·fa·mil'iar'i·ty (-mĭl'yār'ĭ-tē, -mĭl'ē-ār'-) n.
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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Word Origin & History

familiar  (adj.)
c.1340, "intimate, very friendly," from O.Fr. familier, from L. familiaris "domestic." The sense gradually broadened. Of things, 1490. The noun meaning "demon, evil spirit that answers one's call" is from 1584.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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