commonly or generally known or seen: a familiar sight.
well-acquainted; thoroughly conversant: to be familiar with a subject.
informal; easygoing; unceremonious; unconstrained: to write in a familiar style.
closely intimate or personal: a familiar friend; to be on familiar terms.
unduly intimate; too personal; taking liberties; presuming: The duchess disliked familiar servants.
domesticated; tame.
of or relating to a family or household.
noun
a familiar friend or associate.
Also called familiar spirit. Witchcraftand Demonology. a supernatural spirit or demon, often in the form of an animal, supposed to serve and aid a witch or other individual.
Roman Catholic Church.
an officer of the Inquisition, employed to arrest accused or suspected persons.
a person who belongs to the household of the pope or of a bishop, rendering domestic though not menial service.
Origin of familiar
1300–50;Middle English < Latinfamiliāris of a household (see family, -ar1); replacing Middle Englishfamulier < Middle French < Latin, as above
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.
mid-14c., "intimate, very friendly, on a family footing," from Old French famelier, from Latin familiaris "domestic, of a household;" also "familiar, intimate, friendly," dissimilated from *familialis, from familia (see family). The sense gradually broadened. Of things, from late 15c. The noun meaning "demon, evil spirit that answers one's call" is from 1580s.
