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famulus

[fam-yuh-luh s]
noun, plural fam·u·li [fam-yuh-lahy] /ˈfæm yəˌlaɪ/.
  1. a servant or attendant, especially of a scholar or a magician.
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Origin of famulus

1830–40; < Latin: servant, slave; cf. family
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for famulus

Historical Examples of famulus

  • Famulus sped on before, or bounded after them, perpetually on the gallop.

    The Child of Pleasure

    Gabriele D'Annunzio

  • Then Famulus did as he was bid and forced the blade into his master's heart.

  • Basil took the scroll which his famulus handed to him and cut the cord.

    Under the Witches' Moon

    Nathan Gallizier

  • Witness, Mr. Pluto of the Underground and his Famulus, the doctor.

    The Spirit of the Ghetto

    Hutchins Hapgood

  • He tells us of a demon who officiated as famulus in a monastery.

British Dictionary definitions for famulus

famulus

noun plural -li (-ˌlaɪ)
  1. (formerly) the attendant of a sorcerer or scholar
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Word Origin for famulus

C19: from Latin: servant
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012