Familiar, a.
Etymology: [OE. familer, familier, F. familier, fr. L. familiaris, fr. familia family. See Family.]
1. Of or pertaining to a family; domestic. "Familiar feuds." Byron.
2. Closely acquainted or intimate, as a friend or companion; well versed in, as any subject of study; as, familiar with the Scriptures.
3. Characterized by, or exhibiting, the manner of an intimate friend; not formal; unconstrained; easy; accessible. "In loose, familiar strains." Addison. Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar. Shak.
4. Well known; well understood; common; frequent; as, a familiar illustration. That war, or peace, or both at once, may be As things acquainted and familiar to us. Shak. There is nothing more familiar than this. Locke.
1 more senses
5. Improperly acquainted; wrongly intimate. Camden. Familiar spirit, a demon or evil spirit supposed to attend at call. 1 Sam. xxviii. 3, 7-9.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Familiar, n.
1. An intimate; a companion. All my familiars watched for my halting. Jer. xx. 10.
2. An attendant demon or evil spirit. Shak.
3. (Court of Inquisition)
A confidential officer employed in the service of the tribunal, especially in apprehending and imprisoning the accused.