familiar English · revision 4346

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1340|origins=la familia}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /fəˈmɪl.i.ə/, US /fəˈmɪl.jɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|familier]],^(MWU 2024) [[bor|fro|familier|t=related; friendly]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002) from [[la|familiāris|t=of a household, domestic; intimate, friendly]],^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) a dissimilation of *familiālis, from [[m|la|familia|t=household]],^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) from famulus “servant”.^(NODE 1998)^(Partridge 1966) It is related to [[family]].^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of persons, “on a family footing, extremely friendly, intimate”: about 1340 in the OED,^(OED 1989) the mid-14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “Of or pertaining to one's family or household” is from about 1386,^(OED 1989) the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) “Unduly intimate”, too familiar, is from about 1450,^(OED 1989) and of animals, “tame, domesticated”, from 1483.^(OED 1989) Of things, “known from long association”, it is from the late 15th century,^(Etymonline) and “ordinary, usual” from the 1590s.^(Etymonline) As a noun it meant a close friend from the late 14th century,^(Etymonline) and a member of a great person's household from the 13th century in Merriam-Webster.^(MWU 2024) A ''familiar spirit'' is from the 1560s, and the noun ''familiar'', a demon or spirit that answers one's call, from the 1580s.^(Etymonline) Johnson in 1755 gave its senses as “domestic” and “affable, not formal”.^(Johnson 1755)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 13th century – noun, a member of a household.^(MWU 2024)

+ * c. 1340 – intimate, friendly.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1386 – of a family.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 14th century – noun, a close friend.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1450 – unduly intimate.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1483 – of animals, tame.^(OED 1989)

+ * late 15th century – well known.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1560s – ''familiar spirit''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1590s – ordinary, usual.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Often seen or met; [[common]] or well known.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Having a good knowledge of something; [[acquainted]]: ''familiar with the rules''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # On close friendly terms; [[intimate]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Relaxed and [[informal]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Taking undue liberties; [[presumptuous]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A close friend or companion.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # An attendant [[spirit]], often in the form of an animal.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A person who serves in the household of a high official, as of the pope.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[familiarly]]

+ * [[familiarness]]

+ * [[familiarise]]

+ * [[familiarize]]

+ * [[overfamiliar]]

+ * [[familiarity]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[familial]]

+ * [[family]]

+ * [[famulus]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage distinguishes familiar from close, intimate, confidential and chummy: familiar suggests an easy, informal association from frequent contact, close a strong emotional attachment, intimate bonds formed by shared experience, and confidential closeness founded on trust.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}