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Webster's Dictionary (1865)

2 entries under this word

Familiar

Fa-mil'iar, a.

adjective

(fā-mil'yar), a. [Lat. familiāris, from Lat. familia, family; Fr. familier, Pr., Sp., & Pg. familiar, It. famigliare, famigliare. See FAMILY.]

  1. Pertaining to a family; domestic. Pope.
  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; not formal; unceremonious; free; unconstrained; easy; accessible.

Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar. Shak. 4. Well known, as a friend; well understood, as a book or science. That war or peace may be As things acquainted and familiar to us. Shak. Familiar spirit, a demon or evil spirit supposed to attend at a call. Now, ye familiar spirits, . . . Help me this once. Shak.

Fa-mil'iar, n.

noun

n. 1. An intimate; a close companion; one long acquainted; one accustomed to another by free, unreserved converse.

All my familiars watched for my halting. Jer. xx. 10.

Sense 2. A demon or evil spirit supposed to attend at a call. Shak.

Sense 3. (Court of Inquisition.) One admitted to the secrets, and employed in the service, of the courts, especially in apprehending and imprisoning the accused.