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

• familiarness noun
• familiarly adverb
• 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

Although familiar faces remain from the start of her tenure, Bright's international retirement is the latest from a historic generation that is starting to pass on the baton.

Read more on BBC

The companies didn’t disclose financial terms of the deal, but The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that the arrangement will be worth multiple billions of dollars.

Read more on Barron's

Even when researchers randomly sort volunteers into contrived teams, the familiar tribal reflex appears, “engaging empathy circuits more strongly for those on their team.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But those who are familiar with and enjoy Robinson’s puckering brand of cringe are probably up for the challenge — which it is, in the best way.

Read more on Salon

The new agreement will be worth multiple billions of dollars, people familiar with the matter said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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