familiar
[fuh-mil-yer]
- 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.
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- a familiar friend or associate.
- Also called 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.
- 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.
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Origin of familiar
Synonyms
See more synonyms for familiar on Thesaurus.com4. 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 Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for familiar
Contemporary Examples
When ‘Downton Abbey’ returns Sunday night, its fashion fans are in for a familiar treat.
In the midst of the clubbiness, there is a heimishe (Yiddish for familiar, old school) quality.
The Craziest Date Night for Single Jews, Where Mistletoe Is Ditched for ShotsEmily Shire
December 26, 2014
More than bawdy, though, The Ball adds a familiar unpretentiousness to trendy locales like Tao, Lavo, The Park, and Dream Hotel.
The Craziest Date Night for Single Jews, Where Mistletoe Is Ditched for ShotsEmily Shire
December 26, 2014
New York—and Brooklyn in particular—was familiar turf for Brinsley.
But Kent will not let us off the familiar horror hook so easily.
Historical Examples
The tune was familiar to her in happier days, and she listened to it with tears.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
His frank, familiar manner made him a favorite on shipboard.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
Mr. Gladstone knew what books he had and was familiar with their contents.
The Grand Old ManRichard B. Cook
"Listen, Dick," said he, using the familiar name for the first time.
VivietteWilliam J. Locke
His name, once the most familiar, was forgotten in the list of American bards.
Biographical SketchesNathaniel Hawthorne
familiar
- well-known; easily recognizeda familiar figure
- frequent or customarya familiar excuse
- (postpositive foll by with) acquainted
- friendly; informal
- close; intimate
- more intimate than is acceptable; presumptuous
- an archaic word for familial
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- Also called: familiar spirit a supernatural spirit often assuming animal form, supposed to attend and aid a witch, wizard, etc
- a person, attached to the household of the pope or a bishop, who renders service in return for support
- an officer of the Inquisition who arrested accused persons
- a friend or frequent companion
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Word Origin
C14: from Latin familiāris domestic, from familia family
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for familiar
adj.
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.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with familiar
familiar
see have a familiar ring.
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.