There are too many senses in which the noun "familiar" may be used.

In the play Bell, Book and Candle, it describes Gillian's cat Pyewacket, an embodied spirit with supernatural powers who attends, assists and protects a witch or wizard.

In the television series Cheers it describes the characters who gathered routinely at the bar. The American synonym would be "regulars."

It may describe a person who is routinely in the company of another, a companion or associate.

In more antique use, it describes a person who performs domestic services in the home of a high official, especially a religious official, such as a pope or a bishop.

In a narrow and specialized use, it refers to a person who both lives and works inside a Christian monastery but has yet to take any vow.

And it may describe a person who is learned or well-versed or highly acquianted with something (usually followed by a prepositional phrase, e.g. "familiars of the law").

Are there others?

Giving your examples numbers...

...aren't #2 + #3 basically the same...

...#4 + #5 basically the same?

The intent doesn't seem to have changed much over the years. The application, however...

The application, however...


Would you care to elaborate, Muzak? I'm not familiar with that expression ...

Are there others?

Let's not forget "a familiar refrain" -- which is seldom a tune, Father Steve.

Eg:

The phrase "bringing down the house" is a familiar refrain in New York City's historic theater district along 42nd Street. But literally bringing the house down the street - all of it! - could raise a few eyebrows, even among jaded New Yorkers. May 1, 1998

Sometimes one paints the north side of the barn with a brush... sometimes two paint the south side of the house with a roller... some don't but some actually ® *do windows.

You got me, Fr. Steve. I can't think of any other uses of familiar as a noun. (I suppose ICLIU, huh...)

Well, there's also (most appositely) the familiar of the court:

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

But it's an interesting little family of words, growing by a process of transfer from its Latin roots... now, hang on, was ASp practising her irony, or was she just playing the familiar role of Devil's Advocate? ;)

mav!

this place needs a kiss emoticon

:-x

Almost certainly the kiss, then. *Sigh*. I really was hoping for some irony. Ironic, really ...

CK, didn't you see her grASp the rod?

Hey--I just thought of a "could have been", Father Steve:
familiar would have made an excellent rank for this board. I would have far preferred that to Addict.

familiar would have made an excellent rank for this board. I would have far preferred that to Addict.

Not sure I agree, Jackie. One can become too familiar. [Just speaking of myself, of course. :) ]

http://www.hulford.co.uk/familiar.html

Mav:

As you noted, the apposition is pretty interesting, particularly when one looks at the OED definition and finds that in the context you raised it means an officer of the Inquisition who was charged with apprehending the accused.

TEd

The Wikipedia says, of the Spanish Inquisition, "The clerical members of the tribunal were assisted by civilians (familiares). The office of familiar of the Inquisition was very prestigious."

In general use, anything which is "familiar" is comfortable, like an old pair of slippers. But in real life, many of the things we are most familiar with are familiarities no-one enjoys, like death and taxes. :)