[fa.mil.iar] n (13c) 1: a member of the household of a high official
2: one that is familiar; esp: an intimate associate: companion
3: a spirit often embodied in an animal and held to attend and serve or guard a person
4. a: one who is well acquainted with something b: one who frequents a place
[2]familiar adj [ME familier, fr. MF, fr. L familiaris, fr. familia] (14c) 1: closely acquainted: intimate "a ~ family friend"
2. obs: affable, sociable 3 a: of or relating to a family "remembering past ~ celebrations" b: frequented by families "a ~ resort"
4. a: being free and easy "the ~ association of old friends" b: marked by informality "a ~ essay" c: overly free and unrestrained: presumptuous "grossly ~ behavior" d: moderately tame "~ animals"
5. a: frequently seen or experienced: easily recognized "a ~ theme" b: of everyday occurrence c: possibly known but imperfectly remembered "her face looked ~"
6: having personal or intimate knowledge--used with with "~ with the facts of the case" syn see common -- fa.mil.iar.ly adv -- fa.mil.iar.ness n