FAMILIAR

Of or pertaining to a family; domestic. "Familiar feuds." Byron.

Closely acquainted or intimate, as a friend or companion; well versed in, as any subject of study; as, familiar with the Scriptures.

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.

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.

Improperly acquainted; wrongly intimate. Camden. Familiar spirit, a demon or evil spirit supposed to attend at call. 1 Sam. xxviii. 3, 7-9.

An intimate; a companion. All my familiars watched for my halting. Jer. xx. 10.

An attendant demon or evil spirit. Shak.

A confidential officer employed in the service of the tribunal, especially in apprehending and imprisoning the accused.