Familiar \Fa*mil`iar\, a. [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.

5. Improperly acquainted; wrongly intimate. --Camden.

Familiar spirit, a demon or evil spirit supposed to attend at call. --1 Sam. xxviii. 3, 7-9.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Familiar \Fa*mil"iar\, 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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)