familiar Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a person attached to the household of a high official (as a pope or bishop) who renders service in return for support
  2. noun a friend who is frequently in the company of another
    comrade; fellow; associate; companion.
    • drinking companions
    • comrades in arms
  3. noun a spirit (usually in animal form) that acts as an assistant to a witch or wizard
    familiar spirit.
  4. adjective well known or easily recognized
    • a familiar figure
    • familiar songs
    • familiar guests
  5. adjective within normal everyday experience; common and ordinary; not strange
    • familiar ordinary objects found in every home
    • a familiar everyday scene
    • a familiar excuse
    • a day like any other filled with familiar duties and experiences
  6. adjective satellite (usually followed by `with') well informed about or knowing thoroughly
    conversant.
    • conversant with business trends
    • familiar with the complex machinery
    • he was familiar with those roads
  7. adjective satellite having mutual interests or affections; of established friendship
    intimate.
    • on familiar terms
    • pretending she is on an intimate footing with those she slanders

WordNet

Fa*mil`iar adjective
Etymology
OE. familer, familier, F. familier, fr. L. familiaris, fr. familia family. See Family.
Definitions
  1. Of or pertaining to a family; domestic. "Familiar feuds." Byron.
  2. Closely acquainted or intimate, as a friend or companion; well versed in, as any subject of study; as, familiar with the Scriptures.
  3. Characterized by, or exhibiting, the manner of an intimate friend; not formal; unconstrained; easy; accessible. "In loose, familiar strains." Addison.
    Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar. Shak.
  4. Well known; well understood; common; frequent; as, a familiar illustration.
    That war, or peace, or both at once, may be As things acquainted and familiar to us. Shak.
    There is nothing more familiar than this. Locke.
  5. Improperly acquainted; wrongly intimate. Camden. 1 Sam. xxviii. 3, 7-9.
Fa*mil"iar noun
Definitions
  1. An intimate; a companion.
    All my familiars watched for my halting. Jer. xx. 10.
  2. An attendant demon or evil spirit. Shak.
  3. (Court of Inquisition) A confidential officer employed in the service of the tribunal, especially in apprehending and imprisoning the accused.

Webster 1913