familiar

[fuh-mil-yer]

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.

   Synonyms: bold, forward

6. domesticated; tame.

7. of or relating to a family or household.

noun

1. a familiar friend or associate.

2. familiar spirit. Witchcraft and Demonology.,  a supernatural spirit or demon, often in the form of an animal, supposed to serve and aid a witch or other individual.

3. Roman Catholic Church.

   1. an officer of the Inquisition, employed to arrest accused or suspected persons.

   2. a person who belongs to the household of the pope or of a bishop, rendering domestic though not menial service.

familiar

/ fəˈmɪlɪə /

adjective

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

noun

1. Also called: familiar spirit. a supernatural spirit often assuming animal form, supposed to attend and aid a witch, wizard, etc

2. a person, attached to the household of the pope or a bishop, who renders service in return for support

3. an officer of the Inquisition who arrested accused persons

4. a friend or frequent companion

Other Word Forms

• familiarly adverb
• familiarness noun
• nonfamiliar adjective
• nonfamiliarly adverb
• overfamiliar adjective
• overfamiliarly adverb
• prefamiliar adjective
• prefamiliarly adverb
• quasi-familiar adjective
• quasi-familiarly adverb
• ultrafamiliar adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of familiar¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin familiāris “of a household,” family, -ar ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of familiar¹

C14: from Latin familiāris domestic, from familia _family

Idioms and Phrases

see have a familiar ring.

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Already, young people in their 20s are trying their hand at investing in large numbers, and now just behind them is a surge of teenagers like Pope who are getting familiar with markets.

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The troops are now patrolling the capital in larger groups and will be accompanied by police from the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, according to a person familiar with the security arrangement.

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I started at my familiar old station, now named Chennai Egmore.

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But the full scope of their project went much further, according to people familiar with the talks.

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We are quick to discard the familiar in favor of the novel.

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Related Words

• intimate 
• mundane 
• recognizable www.thesaurus.com
• simple 
• usual