familiar
pronunciation
How to pronounce familiar in British English:
UK [fəˈmɪliə(r)]
How to pronounce familiar in American English:
US [fəˈmɪliər]
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- Noun:
- a person attached to the household of a high official (as a pope or bishop) who renders service in return for support
- a person who is frequently in the company of another
- a spirit (usually in animal form) that acts as an assistant to a witch or wizard
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- Adjective:
- well known or easily recognized
- within normal everyday experience; common and ordinary; not strange
- (usually followed by `with') well informed about or knowing thoroughly
- having mutual interests or affections; of established friendship
Word Origin
- familiar
- familiar: [14] Familiar originally meant simply ‘of the family’ (it came, partly via Old French familier, from Latin familiāris). Its usual use in this sense was in phrases such as familiar enemy and familiar foe, denoting a treacherous enemy from within one’s own family or household. It gradually broadened out semantically via ‘intimately associated’ (preserved in familiar spirit, and in the noun use ‘intimate friend’) to ‘well-known from constant association’.=> family
- familiar (adj.)
- mid-14c., "intimate, very friendly, on a family footing," from Old French famelier "related; friendly," from Latin familiaris "domestic, private, belonging to a family, of a household;" also "familiar, intimate, friendly," dissimilated from *familialis, from familia (see family). From late 14c. as "of or pertaining to one's family." Of things, "known from long association," from late 15c. Meaning "ordinary, usual" is from 1590s. The noun meaning "demon, evil spirit that answers one's call" is from 1580s (familiar spirit is attested from 1560s); earlier as a noun it meant "a familiar friend" (late 14c.). The Latin plural, used as a noun, meant "the slaves," also "a friend, intimate acquaintance, companion."
Synonym
Antonym
Example
- 1. Beijing the ritual is now familiar .
- 2. Murakami : there is something very familiar to me about running .
- 3. It has been a familiar problem in the current downturn .
- 4. The symptoms are familiar , but you have misdiagnosed the cause .
- 5. Mr tucker has been criticised for the familiar tone of his electronic exchanges with mr diamond .