The word "familiar" is spelled with two syllables: fa-mil-iar. The first syllable starts with the /f/ sound, which is produced by pressing the upper teeth onto the lower lip while blowing air out of the mouth. The second syllable starts with the /m/ sound, which is made by closing the lips and delivering air out of the nose. The third syllable begins with the "yuh" sound, represented by the letter "i". The final syllable starts with the /ar/ sound, which is produced by lowering the tongue in the back of the mouth.
Familiar is an adjective primarily used to describe something or someone that is known, recognized, or frequently seen. It refers to a state of being acquainted or familiarized with a particular object, concept, person, or place. In this sense, familiar encompasses the idea of knowledge or understanding gained through repeated exposure or acquaintance.
Additionally, familiar can pertain to a sense of close friendship, intimacy, or a personal connection. It signifies a level of comfort and closeness that arises from a longstanding or deep-rooted relationship. This can be applied to both people and animals, as one might refer to their pet as their familiar.
Moreover, familiar can describe something that is easily identifiable or readily recognizable due to its frequent occurrence or popularity. This understanding stems from the notion of the familiar being easily known or understood due to its prevalence.
In certain contexts, familiar can also possess a sense of being unremarkable, mundane, or plain. It suggests a lack of novelty or surprise, often conveying a sense of predictability or tiresomeness. However, this usage is less common compared to the other aforementioned meanings.
Overall, the term familiar entails notions of recognition, knowledge, intimacy, comfort, and predictability. Its multifaceted nature enables its usage across various domains to describe both concrete and abstract concepts.
• Well acquainted with; intimate; affable; easy and unconstrained; common; frequent.
• One long acquainted; a spirit or demon supposed to wait on; an officer or servant of the Inquisition employed to arrest and imprison the accused.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "familiar" has its roots in the Latin term "familiaris", which derives from the noun "famulus", meaning "servant" or "household slave". In ancient Rome, "familiaris" referred to someone who was part of the household and had a close relationship with the family. Over time, the word "familiar" evolved to encompass notions of close acquaintance, friendship, and intimacy, ultimately taking on its present-day meaning.