familiar

American  

[fuh-mil-yer] / fəˈmɪl yər /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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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

familiar Idioms  

1. see have a familiar ring.

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Related Words

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.

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

Etymology

Origin of familiar

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

Example Sentences

By applying principles from larger-scale robotics such as rigid, compliant and origami robots, scientists are adapting familiar mechanical concepts to the nanoscale.

From Science Daily

That argument will sound familiar to anyone following the internal debate at the Fed.

From Barron's

That argument will sound familiar to anyone following the internal debate at the Fed.

From Barron's

The FBI, National Security Council, state department, Delta Force and the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service were in contact about her abduction, sources familiar told CBS.

From BBC

AT&T Chief Executive John Stankey agreed to the new terms for the FirstNet program last week, after months of talks with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, according to people familiar with the matter.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• intimate
• mundane
• recognizable
• simple
• usual