familiar spirit

familiar spirit
a supernatural spirit or demon supposed to attend on or serve a person. Also called familiar.
[1555-65]

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

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  • Familiar spirit — 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. Syn: familial. [1913 Webster] 2. Closely acquainted or intimate,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • familiar spirit — n. FAMILIAR (n. 2) …   English World dictionary

  • Familiar spirit — In early modern English superstition, a familiar spirit, imp, or familiar (from Middle English familiar , related to family) is an animal shaped spirit who serves for witchery, a demon, or other magician related subjects. Familiars were imagined… …   Wikipedia

  • familiar spirit — noun a spirit (usually in animal form) that acts as an assistant to a witch or wizard • Syn: ↑familiar • Hypernyms: ↑spirit, ↑disembodied spirit * * * noun 1. : a supernatural often malignant spirit in the service of an individual …   Useful english dictionary

  • Familiar spirit —    Sorcerers or necormancers, who professed to call up the dead to answer questions, were said to have a familiar spirit (Deut. 18:11; 2 Kings 21:6; 2 Chr. 33:6; Lev. 19:31; 20:6; Isa. 8:19; 29:4). Such a person was called by the Hebrews an ob,… …   Easton's Bible Dictionary

  • familiar spirit — noun Date: 1565 1. a spirit or demon that serves or prompts an individual 2. the spirit of a dead person invoked by a medium to advise or prophesy …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • familiar spirit — famil′iar spir′it n. myt familiar 9) • Etymology: 1555–65 …   From formal English to slang

  • familiar spirit — /fəmɪljə ˈspɪrət/ (say fuhmilyuh spiruht) noun a supernatural spirit or demon supposed to attend on or serve a person …  

  • Pyewacket (familiar spirit) — Pyewacket was one of the familiar spirits of a witch detected by the witchfinder general Matthew Hopkins in March 1644 in the town of Manningtree, Essex, England. Hopkins claimed he spied on the witches as they held their meeting close by his… …   Wikipedia

  • 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. Syn: familial. [1913 Webster] 2. Closely acquainted or intimate, as a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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