familiar (fəˈmɪlɪə
)
Definitions
adjective
- well-known; easily recognized ⇒
a familiar figure
- frequent or customary ⇒
a familiar excuse
- (postpositive) with acquainted
- friendly; informal
- close; intimate
- more intimate than is acceptable; presumptuous
- an archaic word for familial
noun
familiar spirit a supernatural spirit often assuming animal form, supposed to attend and aid a witch, wizard, etc- a person, attached to the household of the pope or a bishop, who renders service in return for support
- an officer of the Inquisition who arrested accused persons
- a friend or frequent companion
Alternative Forms
faˈmiliarly adverb faˈmiliarness nounWord Origin
C14: from Latin familiāris domestic, from familiafamilySynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
well-known,
household,
everyday,
recognized,
common,
stock,
domestic,
repeated,
ordinary,
conventional,
routine,
frequent,
accustomed,
customary,
mundane,
recognizable,
common or garden,
=
relaxed,
open,
easy,
friendly,
free,
near,
comfortable,
intimate,
casual,
informal,
amicable,
cordial,
free-and-easy,
unreserved,
unconstrained,
unceremonious,
hail-fellow-well-met,
=
disrespectful,
forward,
bold,
presuming,
intrusive,
presumptuous,
impudent,
overfamiliar,
overfree
Translations
- British English:
familiar
If someone or something is familiar to you, you recognize them or know them well.Her name sounds familiar to me.fəˈmɪlɪə ADJECTIVE Her name sounds familiar to me.
- Spanish:
familiar
adj
- French:
familier
adj
- German:
bekannt
adj
- Chinese: 熟悉的 adj
- Arabic: مَأْلُوف adj
- Portuguese: familiar adj
- Russian: знакомый adj знакомая
- Croatian: poznat adj poznata
- Czech: známý adj
- Danish: bekendt adj
- Dutch: bekend adj
- Finnish: tuttu adj
- Greek: οικείος adj οικεία
- Italian: familiare adj
- Japanese: よく知られている no_posp
- Korean: 잘 알려져 있는 adj
- Norwegian: fortrolig adj
- Polish: znajomy adj znajoma
- Brazilian Portuguese: familiar adj
- European Spanish:
familiar
adj
- Swedish: förtrolig adj förtroligt
- Thai: คุ้นเคย adj
- Turkish: bildik adj
- Vietnamese: quen thuộc adj
Usage examples
She felt that familiar fear uncoil in her stomach, adding to the fear she felt from what she'd learned.
, LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)In the middle of England, surrounded by familiar plants and fishes, he had come across a scene that was several hundred million years old.
Country Life (2004)This evening will find United in a situation which is all too familiar to them.
Irish Times (2002)Its roots were dried and used as a coffee substitute familiar on the breakfast tables of grey, post-war Britain.
Glasgow Herald (2001)This followed a familiar pattern in Hollywood, which was to steer clear of something potentially sensitive.
, HEAVEN: A Traveller's Guide to the Undiscovered Country (2002)