Familiar /(?)/

Fa·mil·iar

Familiar

a.
  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.
  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.
    There is nothing more familiar than this.
  5. Improperly acquainted; wrongly intimate.

Phrases & Compounds

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

Familiar

n.
  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)