fam

n. [ Cf. Famble, v. ] A hand. [ Slang & Obs. ] “We clap our fambles.” Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Famed p. pr. & vb. n. Faming. ] 1. To report widely or honorably. [ 1913 Webster ]

The field where thou art famed
To have wrought such wonders. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make famous or renowned. [ 1913 Webster ]

Those Hesperian gardens famed of old. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. fame, L. fama, fr. fari to speak, akin to Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; a saying, report, fa`nai to speak. See Ban, and cf. Fable, Fate, Euphony, Blame. ] 1. Public report or rumor. [ 1913 Webster ]

The fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house. Gen. xlv. 16. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Report or opinion generally diffused; renown; public estimation; celebrity, either favorable or unfavorable; as, the fame of Washington. [ 1913 Webster ]

I find thou art no less than fame hath bruited. Shak.

Syn. -- Notoriety; celebrity; renown; reputation. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Without fame or renown. -- Fame"less*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

adj. 1. relating to or having the characteristics of a family; as, children of the same familial background; familial aggregation. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. tending to occur among members of a family, usually by hereditary transmission; familial traits.
Syn. -- genetic, hereditary, inherited, transmitted, transmissible. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. An intimate; a companion. [ 1913 Webster ]

All my familiars watched for my halting. Jer. xx. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An attendant demon or evil spirit. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Court of Inquisition) A confidential officer employed in the service of the tribunal, especially in apprehending and imprisoning the accused. [ 1913 Webster ]

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.
Syn. -- familial. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Closely acquainted or intimate, as a friend or companion; well versed in, as any subject of study; as, familiar with the Scriptures. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Characterized by, or exhibiting, the manner of an intimate friend; not formal; unconstrained; easy; accessible. “In loose, familiar strains.” Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Well known; well understood; common; frequent; as, a familiar illustration. [ 1913 Webster ]

That war, or peace, or both at once, may be
As things acquainted and familiar to us. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is nothing more familiar than this. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Improperly acquainted; wrongly intimate. Camden. [ 1913 Webster ]

Familiar spirit, a demon or evil spirit supposed to attend at call. 1 Sam. xxviii. 3, 7-9. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. to make familiar or acquainted; same as familiarize. [ chiefly Brit. ]
Syn. -- familiarize, acquaint. [ WordNet 1.5 ]