Familiar

a. and sb. Forms: 4–6 famuler(e, 4 -iar, 5 -ier, -yer), famil-, famyler, -iar(e, -ier(e, -yar(e, -yer, 5–6 fameliar, -yar, 6–7 famillar, 4– familiar. [a. OF. familier, famelier, famulier (mod.F. familier), ad. L. familiār-is, f. familia: see FAMILY.]

  A.  adj.

  1.  a. Of or pertaining to one’s family or household. (Now rare, and with mixture of other senses.) † Of an enemy: That is ‘of one’s own household’: lit. and fig. † Of habits: Pertaining to one’s family life, private, domestic.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Merch. T., 540.

c. 1400.  Usk, The Testament of Love, II. 343/1. Nothyng is werse ne more mighti for to anoye, than is a famyliar enemye.

1534.  More, On the Passion, Wks. 1294/1. The false treason of his familier enemy.

1548.  Hall, Chron., 205. Either the familier enemies abidyng at home, or the extravagant fooes, lyngeryng beyonde the sea.

1568.  Grafton, Chron., II. 105. Commaunded … neyther … his awne familier houshold to doe him anye kinde of service.

1779–81.  Johnson, L. P., Prior, Wks. III. 143. His private character and familiar practices.

1862.  Stanley, Jew. Ch. (1877), I. ii. 35. Abram was dwelling … in the midst … of his familiar circle.

  † b.  Of titles, heraldic bearings, etc.: Belonging to a family. Obs.

1646.  Buck, Rich. III., II. 45. Yet neither these foure legitimate children … were permitted to the Princely familiar Title of Lancaster, so long as that name flourished, much lesse of Plantagenet. Ibid., 46. [The Heralds] … assign’d him by the like Fabulous Art, a shield of familiar Ensignes, the Armes of France border’d with an Orle of Normandy or Guyen.

  2.  Of persons and their relations: On a family footing; extremely friendly, intimately associated, intimate. Const. † till, † to, with.

c. 1340.  Hampole, Prose Tr. (1866), 7. He apperyde till ane þat was famyliare till hym in hys lyfe.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Prol., 215.

c. 1450.  Life of St. Cuthbert (Surtees), 1508.

1450–1530.  Myrr. our Ladye, p. lviii. She was moch famylyer wyth seynt Byrgette in hyr lyfe.

c. 1585.  R. Browne, Answ. Cartwright, 28. Priuate familiar felloshippe.

1642.  Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., V. xix. 438. Every one was as well pleased as if he had been prince himself, because he might be so familiar with the prince.

1751.  Johnson, Rambler, No. 160, 28 Sept., ¶ 6. Among those with whom time and intercourse have made us familiar, we feel our affections divided in different proportions without much regard to moral or intellectual merit.

1831.  Arnold, Let., in Stanley, Life & Corr. (1844), I. ii. 29. Have your pupils a good deal with you, and be as familiar with them as you possibly can.

1847.  J. Wilson, Chr. North (1857), II. 9. With all their genius, accomplishments, and virtues, dishonour comes and goes, a familiar and privileged guest, out and in their house.

  † b.  Of knowledge: Intimate. Obs.

1761.  Hume, Hist. Eng., II. xxxvi. 285. She had attained a familiar knowledge of the Roman and Greek languages.

  c.  In a bad sense. Unduly intimate. Const. † to, with. Now only with advbs. like too, over.

c. 1450.  trans. T. à Kempis’ Imit., I. viii. Be not familier to eny womman; but generally commende alle gode womman to god.

1494.  Fabyan, Chron., VI. ccx. 224. Emma … was accused to be famulyer with the bysshop of Wynchester.

1514.  Barclay, Cyt. & Uplondyshm. (Percy Society), 2.

1605.  Camden, Rem. (1636), 279. A poore man found a Priest over familiar with his wife.

  d.  Familiar angel: a guardian angel. Familiar † devil, spirit: a demon supposed to be in association with or under the power of a man.

14[?].  Prose Legends, in Anglia, VIII. 146. To obeye to hir famylier aungel þat hadde hir in kepynge.

1460.  Capgrave, Chron. (1858), 25. That same familiare devel whech he haunted moost with swech sparkis set him on fire.

1565.  Stow, Chron., 107 b. A familiar spirit which hee had … in likenesse of a Catte.

a. 1641.  Bp. Mountagu, Acts & Mon., vii. § 143 (1642), 473. That the Samaritans were anciently defamed therewith, the Jewes doe intimate in that their blasphemy against our Saviour, Thou art a Samaritan, and hast a divell, as taxing him with the practice of that people, who commonly being witches, had familiar spirits attending on them.

a. 1707.  Beveridge, Wks. II. (R.). They … called over them that had familiar spirits, in the name of our Lord Jesus.

1876.  Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., III. xxvii. No familiar spirit could have suggested to him more effective words.

  † e.  transf. Of a plant: Adapted to relations with. Obs. rare.

1721.  R. Bradley, Wks. Nat., 38. Mistletoe … can never be made familiar enough with the Earth to take Root, or grow in it.

  3.  Of animals: Accustomed to the company of men; domesticated, tame, on a domestic footing with.

1483.  Caxton, Gold. Leg., 263/2. He had one [hound] moche famylyer whiche boldly wold take brede for the borde.

1598.  Shaks., Merry W., I. i. 21. It is a familiar beast to man, and signifies Loue.

1600.  J. Pory, trans. Leo’s Africa, II. 213. Serpents so familiar with men, that at dinner-time they wil come like dogs and cats.

1721.  R. Bradley, Wks. Nat., 71. This Year I have had several [snakes] alive, which have been familiar about the House, without doing any hurt.

1784.  Cowper, Task, V. 423.

1849.  Sk. Nat. Hist., Mammalia, III. 56. In Cavenne the tapir is occasionally domesticated, and is harmless and quiet; it becomes indeed familiar.

  fig.  1604.  Shaks., Oth., II. iii. 313. Good wine, is a good familiar Creature, if it be well vs’d.

  † 4.  Of food, etc.: Congenial, suitable. Obs.

1620.  Venner, Via Recta (1650), 90. Womans milk is best, because it is most familiar unto mans bodie.

1626.  Bacon, Sylva, § 61. Poisons haue bin made, by some, Familiar.

1661.  Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., 106. Roe-buck. The flesh is … familiar to mans body.

  5.  Of persons: Well or habitually acquainted, having a close acquaintance or intimate knowledge. Of a person’s manner: Resulting from close association. Const. with.

1508.  Fisher, Wks. (1876), I. 278. Who that wyl not make his remembraunce famuler with them [the perylles of hell] before, & often set them before the eye of his soule, they shall at the houre of deth in more terryble maner offre theymselfe vnto his mynde.

1726–7.  Swift, Gulliver, II. vii. He [the King] was amazed, how so impotent and groveling an Insect as I (these were his Expressions) could entertain such inhuman Ideas, and in so familiar a manner, as to appear wholly unmoved at all the Scenes of Blood and Desolation, which I had painted as the common effects of those destructive Machines, whereof he said, some evil Genius, Enemy to Mankind, must have been the first Contriver.

1732.  Pope, Ess. Man, II. 219.

1848.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 332. Men familiar with all ancient and modern learning.

1861.  M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 31. An epoch when what was called a parliament was an assembly entirely different from that with whose incapacity we are familiar.

  6.  Of things: Known from constant association; pertaining to every-day knowledge, well-known. Const. to, † with.

1490.  Caxton, Eneydos, xxix. 111. As we see by example famyler, whan som body hathe submytted hymself by oblygacion to the iurisdicyon of some Iuge.

1576.  A. Fleming, A Panoplie of Epistles, 105. Such pointes as to you are familiar.

1581.  R. Goade, in Confer., III. (1584) X ij. This place of Tertull … is a knowen and familiar place.

1612.  Brinsley, Lud. Lit., ix. (1627), 145. Vntill the Latine be as familiar to the scholler, as the English.

1690.  Locke, Hum. Und., II. i. § 22. After some time, it [the Mind] begins to know the Objects, which being most familiar with it, have made lasting Impressions.

1756.  C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, III. 298. This is an experiment familiar to nurses at Bath.

1793.  J. Williams, Calm Exam., 44. To simplify our laws, and render them more familiar with our comprehension.

1818.  Scott, Rob Roy, i. I will, therefore, wrestle with the tempting spirit of P. P., Clerk of our Parish, as I best may, and endeavour to tell you nothing that is familiar to you already.

1873.  H. Spencer, Stud. Sociol., viii. 180. The contradictions … become by-and-by familiar, and no longer attract his attention.

  b.  Of every-day use, common, current, habitual, ordinary, usual. Const. to.

1599.  Shaks., Hen. V., IV. iii. 50.

1614.  Raleigh, Hist. World, V. vi. § 10. The familiar custome, among Princes … of violating Leagues.

1690.  Locke, Hum. Und., I. iii. § 9. It is familiar amongst the Mengrelians, a People professing Christianity, to Bury their Children alive without scruple.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 135, 4 Aug., ¶ 10. All ridiculous Words make their first Entry into a Language by familiar Phrases.

1780.  Cowper, Progr. Err., 509.

1836.  J. Gilbert, Chr. Atonem., iii. (1852), 75. The practice of impeaching the wares of others, in the hope of recommending no better of their own, is too familiar with mankind.

1866.  Rogers, Agric. & Prices, I. xxv. 618–9. Wine … was an article of general and familiar supply, because up to the time of Edward the Third’s French wars it could be obtained at very easy rates.

  † c.  Homely, plain; hence, easily understood.

1529.  More, Dyaloge, I. Wks. 156/1. The very straunge familiar fassyon thereof.

1588.  Shaks., Loves Labour’s Lost, I. ii. 9. Brag. How canst thou part sadnesse and melancholy my tender Juvenall? Boy. By a familiar demonstration of the working, my tough signeur.

1694.  Addison, An Account of the Greatest English Poets, 139.

  † 7.  Of persons, their actions, etc.: Affable, courteous, friendly, sociable. Obs.

1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 1602. Now was Jason … goodly of his speche, and famulere.

c. 1430.  ABC of Aristotle, in Babees Bk. (1868), 11. F  to fers, ne to famuler, but freendli of cheere.

1529.  More, Dyaloge, III. Wks. 225/2. If they [men] be familier we call them light. If they be solitarye we call them fantastike.

a. 1555.  Latimer, Serm. & Rem. (1845), 76. Christ lived a common life; he was a good familiar man; he ate and drank as others did; he came to men’s tables when he was called, insomuch that some called him a glosser.

1632.  Lithgow, Trav., IX. 416. Here I found euery where kind and familiar people.

a. 1656.  Ussher, Ann., VII. (1658), 802. Whereupon one in a familiar banquet, mention being made of him, promised Caius, that if he would bid him, he would saile presently to Rhodes, and bring him the head of that banished man.

1728.  Pope, The Dunciad, IV. 497.

1751.  Johnson, Rambler, No. 89, 22 Jan., ¶ 12. A wise and good Man is never so amiable as in his unbended and familiar Intervals.

  8.  Free, as among persons intimately acquainted, unceremonious; occas. Too free, taking liberties with; also in To make familiar with.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Shipman’s T., 31.

1485.  Caxton, Paris & Vienna (1868), 88. Hath he enchaunted you that ye suffre hym soo famylyer wyth you.

1645.  Howell (title), Epistolæ Ho-Elianæ. Familiar Letters, domestic and foreign.

1687.  T. Brown, Saints in Uproar, Wks, 1730, I. 79. There’s no stopping your licentious tongue, otherwise you wou’d not make so familiar with the head of the Church.

1712.  Steele, Spect., No. 526, 3 Nov., ¶ 2. I grant it does look a little familiar, but I must call you Dear Dumb.

1712.  Arbuthnot, John Bull, IV. v. As if I had been familiar with your reputation.

1786.  W. Thomson, Watson’s Philip III. (1793), II. v. 110. He … was indulged at all times, with familiar access to his person.

  † b.  adv. = FAMILIARLY.

1803.  trans. Le Brun’s Monsieur Botte, III. 28. A person … who continues to treat me so shockingly familiar.

  9.  Comb., as familiar-fond, -mannered adjs.

1857.  W. Collins, Dead Secret, II. VI. iii. 264. She will not make friends with any of those mothers; the ladies she is familiar-fond with, are the ladies who have no children, or the ladies whose families are all up-grown.

1876.  Geo. Eliot, Dan. Der., VI. xlviii. Her power of hating a coarse, familiar-mannered man, with clumsy hands, was now relaxed by the intensity with which she hated his contrast.

  B.  sb.

  1.  A member of a person’s family or household (obs. in general sense). In the Roman Catholic Church, a person who belongs to the household of the Pope or a bishop, and renders domestic but not menial services.

1460.  Burgh Rec. Peebles, 9 June (1872), 137. The said Sir Thomas Kenedy was in the Kyngis respit at the byschof of Sanct Andoris has of the Kyngis as famelyar tyl hym.

1536.  Sir R. Moryson, in Strype, Eccl. Mem., I. App. lxxii. 175. We princes wrot ourselves to be familiars to popes.

1541.  Becon, News out of Heaven, Early Wks. (1843), 40. A mans own household and familiars shall be his most enemies.

1548.  Hall, Chron., 244 b. To him, and his servauntes and familiers a fre and a general Pardon.

1632.  Lithgow, Trav., VI. 268. Their victuals are brought dayly to them by their familiars.

1885.  Catholic Dict., s.v. The nephews … of a bishop … in order to be considered his familiars, must render him real service. Ibid., The familiars of the Pope … enjoy many privileges.

  b.  An officer of the Inquisition, chiefly employed in arresting and imprisoning the accused.

1560.  Frampton, Narr., in Strype, Ann. Ref., I. xx. 239. This done, we took our Journey towards Sevil; the Familiar [that is, a Promoter employed by the Inquisitor] and his Man well armed.

c. 1645.  Howell, Lett. (1650), I. 246. When the said Familiar goes to any house … all doors … fly open to him.

1781.  Gibbon, Decl. & F., III. 245. Many of the Castillans, who pillaged Rome, were familiars of the holy inquisition.

1825.  J. Neal, Brother Jonathan, III. 441. If my familiars have done their duty, he is on his way to the scaffold—attainted for death—a traitor to his king.

1855.  Motley, Dutch Rep., II. iii. (1866), 165. It [the ‘Holy Office’] … having its familiars in every house.

  transf.  1821.  Southey, Lett. (1856), III. 227. I do not like to embody myself as a political Familiar, God knows, from no fear of popular odium, nor with any wish to shrink from responsibility or notice, if that were possible.

  2.  A person with whom one has constant intercourse, an intimate friend or associate.

c. 1374.  Chaucer, Boeth., I. iv. 18. For whiche þing oon of þi familers not vnskilfully axed þus. Ȝif, etc.

1494.  Fabyan, Chron., VI. cci. 208. Hugh Capet … was his famulyer and chief counceler.

1504.  Lady Margaret, trans. T. á Kempis’ Imit., IV. xiii. Thou, my god, art closed & hyd in councell of thy famyliars.

a. 1569.  Kingsmill, A Viewe of Mans Estate, xi. (1580), 70. Thou whom I have chosen … one of my twelve familiars.

1640.  Bp. Hall, Episc., II. x. 129. Whom should I rather begin with, after the Apostles, than an Apostolicall man, a co-partner and a deare fameliar of the two prime Apostles S^t. Peter and S^t. Paul, I mean Clemens.

1669.  Penn, No Cross, ix. § 10. It weans thee off thy Familiars.

1859.  Geo. Eliot, A. Bede, 14. Retaining her maiden appellation among her familiars.

  b.  One intimately acquainted with (a thing).

1875.  Lowell, Wordsworth, Prose Wks., 1890, IV. 399. The life-long familiar of the mountains.

  3.  A familiar spirit, a demon or evil spirit supposed to attend at a call.

1584.  R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., III. xv. 65. The poore man plaied with a flie, otherwise called a divell or familiar.

1633.  Ford, The Broken Heart, III. iv.

1748.  Smollett, Rod. Rand. (1812), I. 249. She paid me a visit … to be introduced to my familiar.

1812.  Southey, Omniana, II. 250. Spirits of brutes are devils, sentenced to punishment in that shape; a doctrine which would admirably accord with the old belief in familiars.

1866.  Alger, The Solitudes of Nature and of Man, III. 152. Our familiar is rather a nimble and tricksy spirit, like Puck, than the awing genius of brooding silence which kept Socrates, spell-bound, standing fast in one spot all night.

  transf. and fig.  1819.  Byron, Juan, II. xlix.

1830.  Galt, Lawrie T., I. vii. (1849), 22. The weather was hot; the garret was alive with musquitoes, domestic familiars, and other bloody-minded beasts of prey: I could not, of course, sleep.

1836.  Backwoods of Canada, 51. Vile familiars to the dormitory kept us from closing our weary eye-lids.

1867.  Lowell, Rousseau, Prose Wks., 1890, II. 250. He … keeps a pet sorrow, a blue-devil familiar, that goes with him everywhere.

1867.  J. H. Stirling, De Quincey and Coleridge upon Kant, in Fortn. Rev., 1 Oct., 379. Style, as we know, is one of De Quincey’s familiars: he is not only an admirable stylist himself, but he is also an admirable judge of style.