- fa·mil·iar
adj. Abbr. fam.
-
A close friend or associate.
-
An attendant spirit, often taking animal form.
-
One who performs domestic service in the household
of a high official.
-
A person who frequents a place.
[Middle English from Old French familier,
from Latin familiaris, domestic, from familia,
family; see family.]
- fa·miliar·ly adv.
Synonyms: familiar, close, intimate, confidential,
and chummy.
These adjectives describe relationships marked by intimacy. Familiar
implies an easy, often informal association based on frequent contact
or shared interests: a familiar song; a familiar guest. Close
implies strong emotional attachment: close friendship; close to
my brothers and sisters. Intimate suggests understanding
resulting from the sharing of interests, problems, and experiences:
intimate friends; on an intimate footing. Confidential
suggests closeness founded on trust: the prime minister's confidential
secretary. Chummy implies the comfortable, casual sociability
shared by close friends: The bartender was chummy with the regular
customers.
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