familiar
English meaning: Familiar
Definition
An attendant spirit, often in animal or demon form.
Example
“The witch’s familiar was a black cat.”
Another example: “The witch's familiar was said to take the form of a black cat.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Neutral; as an adjective, well-known or commonly encountered ('a familiar face'), or (with 'with') having good knowledge of something. As a noun (literary/archaic), an attendant spirit, often in animal form. The adjective sense is by far the most common today.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Old French 'familier', from Latin 'familiaris' (of a household), from 'familia' (household); 14th century, with the 'attendant spirit' sense from the 16th.
Synonyms
Antonyms / Opposites
- unfamiliar
- strange
- unknown
Related Words
Common Collocations
- familiar face
- familiar with
- look familiar
- sound familiar
- familiar territory
- seem familiar
Word Forms
familiar (adj & n); familiars (pl); familiarity (n); familiarise (v)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B