I. fə-ˈmil-yər noun
Date: 13th century
1. : a member of the household of a high official
2. : one that is familiar ; especially : 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
II. adjective
Etymology: Middle English familier, from Anglo-French, from Latin familiaris, from familia
Date: 14th century
1. : closely acquainted : intimate
a familiar family friend
2. obsolete : affable , sociable
3.
a. : of or relating to a family
remembering past familiar celebrations
b. : frequented by families
a familiar resort
4.
a. : being free and easy
the familiar association of old friends
b. : marked by informality
a familiar essay
c. : overly free and unrestrained : presumptuous
grossly familiar behavior
d. : moderately tame
familiar animals
5.
a. : frequently seen or experienced : easily recognized
a familiar theme
b. : of everyday occurrence
a familiar routine
c. : possibly known but imperfectly remembered
her face looked familiar
6. : having personal or intimate knowledge — used with with
familiar with the facts of the case
Synonyms: see common
• fa·mil·iar·ly adverb
• fa·mil·iar·ness noun