FAMILIAR
Dictionary entry overview: What does familiar mean?
• FAMILIAR (noun)
The noun FAMILIAR has 3 senses:
1. a person attached to the household of a high official (as a pope or bishop) who renders service in return for support
2. a person who is frequently in the company of another
3. a spirit (usually in animal form) that acts as an assistant to a witch or wizard
Familiarity information: FAMILIAR used as a noun is uncommon.
• FAMILIAR (adjective)
The adjective FAMILIAR has 4 senses:
1. well known or easily recognized
2. within normal everyday experience; common and ordinary; not strange
3. (usually followed by 'with') well informed about or knowing thoroughly
4. having mutual interests or affections; of established friendship
Familiarity information: FAMILIAR used as an adjective is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• FAMILIAR (noun)
Meaning:
A person attached to the household of a high official (as a pope or bishop) who renders service in return for support
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Hypernyms ("familiar" is a kind of...):
retainer; servant (a person working in the service of another (especially in the household))
Meaning:
A person who is frequently in the company of another
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Synonyms:
companion; comrade; associate; familiar; fellow
Context examples:
drinking companions / comrades in arms
Hypernyms ("familiar" is a kind of...):
friend (a person you know well and regard with affection and trust)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "familiar"):
date; escort (a participant in a date)
playfellow; playmate (a companion at play)
tovarich; tovarisch (a comrade (especially in Russian communism))
Meaning:
A spirit (usually in animal form) that acts as an assistant to a witch or wizard
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Synonyms:
familiar spirit; familiar
Hypernyms ("familiar" is a kind of...):
disembodied spirit; spirit (any incorporeal supernatural being that can become visible (or audible) to human beings)
• FAMILIAR (adjective)
Meaning:
Well known or easily recognized
Context examples:
a familiar figure / familiar songs / familiar guests
Similar:
old ((used for emphasis) very familiar)
long-familiar; well-known (frequently experienced; known closely or intimately)
beaten (much trodden and worn smooth or bare)
acquainted; acquainted with; familiar with (having fair knowledge of)
Also:
known (apprehended with certainty)
Attribute:
familiarity (usualness by virtue of being familiar or well known)
Antonym:
unfamiliar (not known or well known)
Meaning:
Within normal everyday experience; common and ordinary; not strange
Context examples:
familiar ordinary objects found in every home / a familiar everyday scene / a familiar excuse / a day like any other filled with familiar duties and experiences
Similar:
common; usual (commonly encountered)
common or garden (the usual or familiar type)
everyday (commonplace and ordinary)
Antonym:
strange (being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird)
Meaning:
(usually followed by 'with') well informed about or knowing thoroughly
Synonyms:
conversant; familiar
Context examples:
conversant with business trends / familiar with the complex machinery / he was familiar with those roads
Similar:
informed (having much knowledge or education)
Meaning:
Having mutual interests or affections; of established friendship
Synonyms:
intimate; familiar
Context examples:
on familiar terms / pretending she is on an intimate footing with those she slanders
Similar:
close (close in relevance or relationship)
