familiar
generally known:
a familiar plant; informal:
to write in a familiar style; personal; intimate:
a familiar friendNot to be confused with:familial – pertaining to a family:
familial ties; heredity:
a familial disease Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
fa·mil·iar
(fə-mĭl′yər)adj.1. Often encountered or seen:
a familiar landmark. See Synonyms at
common.
2. Having fair knowledge; acquainted: Are you familiar with these roads?
3. Of established friendship; intimate: We are on familiar terms.
4. Natural and unstudied; informal: lectured in a familiar style.
5. Taking undue liberties; presumptuous: Students should not be familiar toward an instructor.
6. Familial.
7. Domesticated; tame. Used of animals.
n.1. A close friend or associate.
2. An attendant spirit, often taking animal form.
3. One who performs domestic service in the household of a high official.
4. A person who frequents a place.
[Middle English, from Old French familier, from Latin familiāris, domestic, from familia, family; see family.]
fa·mil′iar·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
familiar
(fəˈmɪlɪə) adj1. well-known; easily recognized: a familiar figure.
2. frequent or customary: a familiar excuse.
3. (foll by: with) acquainted
4. friendly; informal
5. close; intimate
6. more intimate than is acceptable; presumptuous
n8. (Classical Myth & Legend) Also called: familiar spirit a supernatural spirit often assuming animal form, supposed to attend and aid a witch, wizard, etc
9. (Roman Catholic Church) a person, attached to the household of the pope or a bishop, who renders service in return for support
10. (Roman Catholic Church) an officer of the Inquisition who arrested accused persons
11. a friend or frequent companion
[C14: from Latin familiāris domestic, from familia family]
faˈmiliarly adv
faˈmiliarness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
fa•mil•iar
(fəˈmɪl yər)
adj. 1. commonly or generally known or seen: a familiar sight.
2. well-acquainted: to be familiar with a subject.
3. informal: to write in a familiar style.
4. closely personal: to be on familiar terms.
5. unduly intimate: The duchess complained of familiar servants.
6. domesticated; tame.
7. of or pertaining to a family or household.
n. 8. a familiar friend or associate.
9. a supernatural spirit or demon supposed to attend a person or another demon, often in the form of an animal.
10. a domestic employed by a bishop, seminary, etc.
[1300–50; Middle English
famulier < Middle French < Latin
familiāris of a household (see
family,
-ar1)]
fa•mil′iar•ly, adv.
fa•mil′iar•ness, n.
syn: familiar,
confidential,
intimate suggest a friendly relationship between persons, based on frequent association, common interests, etc.
familiar suggests an easygoing and unconstrained relationship between persons who are well-acquainted:
on familiar terms with one's neighbors.
confidential implies a sense of mutual trust that extends to the sharing of confidences and secrets:
a confidential adviser.
intimate connotes a very close and warm relationship characterized by empathy and sharing of private thoughts:
intimate letters to a friend.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
familiar
1. 'familiar'If someone or something is familiar, you recognize them because you have seen, heard, or experienced them before.
There was something familiar about him.
Gradually I began to recognize familiar faces.
2. 'familiar to'If something is familiar to you, you know it well.
His name is familiar to millions of people.
This problem will be familiar to many parents.
3. 'familiar with'If you know or understand something well, you can say that you are familiar with it.
I am of course familiar with your work.
These are statements which I am sure you are familiar with.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
familiar
A low-ranking demon given to a witch by the Devil for the purpose of strengthening the witch’s power. In medieval times familiars were commonly thought to be animals such as cats, dogs, rabbits and toads. In shamanism, a familiar is a spirit who protects a shaman from illness and unfriendly forces and is also known as a totemic animal, guardian spirit, power animal, or tutelary spirit.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited