familiar
1
9.9
- noun
- /fəˈmɪljər/
- Archaic
:
familiar
- She introduced her familiar, a loyal servant who had been with her for years.
Examples
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Throughout history, many bishops had their familiars who assisted them in their duties.
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His familiars are set forth amongst us.
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The usual people, Legal Foundation familiars.
Fiction book (1994) -
The patient becomes depressed because she no longer has appropriate feelings in relation to her familiars.
Academic text (1999) -
I'm one of Damaskinos' familiars.
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Your familiars, woman.
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In this context, familiars interacted with familiars.
Academic text (1999) -
In this context, familiars interacted with familiars.
Academic text (1999) -
In sum, whatever expectations tourists have of the New Orleans Mardi Gras, their behavior was strikingly consistent; they focused inwardly on familiars and ignored strangers.
Academic text (1999) -
The program is operated and supported nationally by the Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar (ICBF), working in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, the National Apprentice Service, the Institute of Territorial Credit, and other governmental and private organizations.
Academic text (2001)
Compounds
Surface Forms
Etymology
Familiar comes from the Latin familiaris, meaning 'of the household', and it was used for a person who served in a high official's home. So, a 'familiar' as a noun originally meant a household servant who lived and worked closely with the family.