familiar
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Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.
familiar
- /fəˈmɪl.i.ə/ UK
- /fəˈmɪl.jəɹ/ US
- /fəˈmɪl.i.əɹ/ US
- /fəɹˈmɪl.jəɹ/ US, nonstandard
Where it comes from
From Middle English familiar, familier, from Latin familiāris (“pertaining to servants; pertaining to the household”). By surface analysis, family + -ar. Piecewise doublet of familial. Displaced native Old English hīwcūþ.
adjective more familiar · most familiar
- Known to one, or generally known; commonplace. There’s a familiar face; that tune sounds familiar.
- Acquainted. I'm quite familiar with this system; she's not familiar with manual gears.
- Intimate or friendly. We are on familiar terms now; our neighbour is not familiar
- Of or pertaining to a family; familial. 1822, Lord Byron, Werner familiar feuds
Similar: accustomed, familiar, habitual, known, predictable, routine, wonted, wontish
noun familiars
- An attendant spirit, often in animal or demon form. The witch’s familiar was a black cat.
- A member of one's family or household.
- A member of a pope's or bishop's household.
- A close friend. [A] friend of mine, that finding a Receipt in Braſsivola, would needs take Hellebor in ſubſtance, & try it on his own perſon; but had not ſome of his familiars come to viſite him by chance, he had by his indiſcretion hazarded himſelfe; many ſuch I have obſerued.
- The officer of the Inquisition who arrested suspected people.
Similar: nigget
