Familiar — Defs

01 a. Of or pertaining to a family; domestic.

1.
Of or pertaining to a family; domestic.
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 friend; not formal; unconstrained; easy; accessible.
“Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar.” — Shak.
4.
Well known; well understood; common; frequent; as, a familiar illustration.
“That war, or peace, or both at once, may be As things acquainted and familiar to us.” — Shak.

“There is nothing more familiar than this.” — Locke.
5.
Improperly acquainted; wrongly intimate.

Phrases & compounds

Familiar spirit — a demon or evil spirit supposed to attend at call.

Syn. familial.

02 n. An intimate; a companion.

1.
An intimate; a companion.
“All my familiars watched for my halting.” — Jer. xx. 10.
2.
An attendant demon or evil spirit.
3.
A confidential officer employed in the service of the tribunal, especially in apprehending and imprisoning the accused.(Court of Inquisition)