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Added 9 October 2026

familiar

/fəˈmɪl.i.ə/ noun

In Latin: suētus Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about familiar at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A person attached to the household of a high official (as a pope or bishop) who renders service in return for support.
A friend who is frequently in the company of another.
drinking companions
A spirit (usually in animal form) that acts as an assistant to a witch or wizard.

adjective

Well known or easily recognized.
a familiar figure
Within normal everyday experience; common and ordinary; not strange.
familiar ordinary objects found in every home
(usually followed by `with') well informed about or knowing thoroughly.
conversant with business trends

Origin

From Middle English familiar, familier, from Latin familiāris (“pertaining to servants; pertaining to the household”). By surface analysis, family + -ar. Piecewise doublet of familial. Displaced native Old English hīwcūþ.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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