Also 7 famel-, famul-, famylist. [f. as prec. + -IST.]
† 1. The head of a family, a family-man. Obs.
1512. W. Parkes, Curtaine Dr., 7. Then hath he descended from the generall vnto particulars, from Countries to Courts, from Citties to Townes, from Townes to Families, from Families to euery particular Famulist, from the Child in the wardship of his cradle, to the old man in the fetters of his graue.
1615. Bedwell, Moham. Imp., II. § 70. Mohammed was a good familist.
1658. Osborn, Adv. Son, 70. If you will needs be a Familist, and Marry, Muster not the want of Issue among your greatest affliction, as those do, that Cry, Give me Children or else my Name dies; the poorest way of immortalizing that can be, and as natural to a Cobler as a Prince, and not seldom out-reached by a Grave-stone.
† 2. One of the same family or household. Obs.
1631. Brathwait, Whimzies, Zealous Brother, 119. Hee now takes time to intend controversies, which he secretly commenceth amongst his owne Familists, against the Communion Book and Book of common Prayer.
1638. Heywood, Wise Woman, II. Wks. 1874, V. 304. If you come to live in our house, and be a Familist amongst us, I shall desire you better acquaintance, your Name and my Phisnomy should have some consanguinitie.
3. A member of the sect called the Family of Love; see FAMILY 7.
1592. Nashe, P. Pennilesse, B 3. Some gally-gascoines, or a shipmans hose, like the Anabaptists & adulterous Familists.
1634. Canne, Necess. Separ. (1849), 132. The profane brood of the cursed Familists do hold that religion standeth not in outward things.
a. 1716. South, Serm. (1717), V. 151. See, with what Contempt the Father of the Familists, Henry Nicolas, casts off the Use and Authority of it [Scripture].
1853. Marsden, The History of the Early Puritans, 139. The familists did not escape the watchful vigilance of the privy council.
