# familiar

Pronunciation: US say "fuh-MIL-yur" /fəˈmɪl.jɚ/; UK say "fuh-MIL-ee-uh" /fəˈmɪl.i.ə/

## Adjective

1. Known to a person, or widely recognized; commonplace.
   - Simple: Known well because you have seen or heard it many times.
   - _The streets near her childhood home were still familiar after twenty years._
   - _Email scams often use familiar logos to seem trustworthy._
2. Having knowledge of something through study or experience; acquainted with it.
   - Simple: Knowing about something because you have learned it or experienced it.
   - _The lawyer was familiar with every clause in the contract._
   - _Most students are familiar with basic algebra by tenth grade._
3. Marked by closeness or friendliness; intimate in manner.
   - Simple: Close and friendly, the way people who know each other well behave.
   - _Her familiar tone with the manager surprised the new hires._
   - _She was a little too familiar with the new manager, calling him by a nickname on her first day._

## Noun

4. An attendant spirit serving a witch or magician, often taking the form of an animal or demon.
   - Simple: A spirit that serves a witch or magician, often appearing as an animal or demon.
   - _The familiar crept along the rafters while its mistress brewed her potions._
   - _Her familiar, a sleek raven, perched on the windowsill during the ritual._

## Adjective

5. Relating to or belonging to a family; familial. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: Belonging to or having to do with a family.

## Noun

6. A close or intimate friend. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: A very close friend.
7. A person belonging to one's family or household. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: A person who is part of your family or household.

## Other meanings

- (noun) A member of the household of a pope or bishop.
- (noun) An officer of the Inquisition charged with arresting people suspected of heresy or other offenses.

## Origin

This word came through Middle English "familiar" from Latin "familiāris," meaning pertaining to servants or the household. It can be seen as "family" plus "-ar," and it replaced the native Old English word "hīwcūþ."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/familiar (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).