familiar: Meaning and Definition of

fa•mil•iar

Pronunciation: (fu-mil'yur), [key]
— adj.
  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.
  6. domesticated; tame.
  7. of or pertaining to a family or household.
—n.
  1. a familiar friend or associate.
    1. an animal, as a cat, that embodies a supernatural spirit and aids a witch in performing magic.
    2. Seefamiliar spirit.
    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.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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