familiarizev.
/fəˈmɪlɪərʌɪz/, U.S. /fəˈmɪljəˌraɪz/ 1. † a. transitive (reflexive). To act in a friendly or intimate manner, esp. to an inappropriate or excessive degree. Also with with. Obsolete.† c. transitive. To render (a person's manner) friendly or affable. Obsolete. rare.† d. transitive (in passive). To be put on friendly or intimate terms with a person or group. Also with to. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > be courteous [verb (reflexive)] > be affable
familiarizea1586
unfreeze1862
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disrepute > damage to reputation > degrading or debasement > degrade oneself or stoop [verb (reflexive)]
unworshipc1380
vilifyc1450
familiarizea1586
unclass1657
demean1659
lower1666
a1586 Sir P. Sidney Arcadia (1590) iii. xiv. f. 302v When Artesia did insinuat herself into her acquaintance, she gaue the gouernment of her courage to wit, & was content to familiarize herselfe with her.
1685 tr. B. Gracián y Morales Courtiers Oracle 163 He that familiarizes himself, presently loses the Superiority that his serious air gave him.
1691 tr. M.-C. d'Aulnoy Ingenious Lett.: Trav. Spain 46 She at length familiariz'd her self, and told me, 'twas not through fear of any thing else but of displeasing me.
1793 Beawes's Civil Hist. Spain & Portugal I. 497 Great Care shall be taken to avoid the Gunners or Corporals familiarizing themselves too much with the Artillery-men.
b. intransitive. To be friendly or intimate with a person. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > be friendly [verb (intransitive)] > become friendly > become friendly or intimate
to get in with1602
familiarize1622
pal1848
chum1884
buddy1916
cop1940
the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > social intercourse or companionship > be sociable [verb (intransitive)] > adopt familiar and courteous manner
familiarize1622
the world > action or operation > behaviour > good behaviour > courtesy > be courteous [verb (intransitive)] > be agreeable > be affable
familiarize1622
1622 J. Reynolds tr. E. de Refuge Treat. Court ii. v. 17 Nero gaue many presents and familiarisd with this Woman.
1662 R. L'Estrange Memento (ed. 2) x. 100 A Soveraign may in many Cases Familiarize with his Subjects.
a1734 R. North Lives of Norths (1826) II. 418 He..familiarized with his equals, and gave no offence to his inferiors.
1886 Harper's Mag. Aug. 377 Captain T. Cook..is another type of the reserved man who does not familiarize with the passengers.
1985 B. Hambly Ishmael iv. 71 Never familiarizing with the men who came to drink.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > make friends with [verb (transitive)] > make friendly or familiar
kithc1175
intimate1642
familiarize1709
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 127. ⁋9 For the Cure of this particular Sort of Madness [sc. haughtiness] it will be necessary to..familiarize his Carriage by the Use of a good Cudgel.
1757 D. Hume Hist. Great Brit. II. 441 The Prince..was noted for an address so cold, dry, and distant, as it was very difficult for him, on account of any interest, to soften or familiarize.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > love > friendliness > make friends with [verb (transitive)] > make friendly or familiar > put (a person) on a footing of intimacy
familiarize1748
1748 S. Richardson Clarissa IV. xxi. 100 Could I but have gained access to her in her hours of heedlessness and dishabille..we had been familiarized to each other long ago.
1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison V. xvii. 96 I should be glad..to be familiarized to the Ladies of your family.
a1864 N. Hawthorne Ancestral Footstep (1883) 501 Middleton on his arrival..is familiarized at the Hospital.
2.
a. transitive (reflexive). To make oneself knowledgeable about something, esp. through direct experience; to acquaint oneself with something; (also) to habituate or accustom oneself. Formerly also with †to, †into.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > undertaking > undertake or apply oneself [verb (reflexive)]
atil1297
putc1300
addressa1393
richc1400
steadc1475
embark1584
familiarize1593
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > do habitually [verb (reflexive)] > accustom oneself
wonc1175
usec1300
enhaunt1549
familiarize1593
wont1603
acclimatize1853
to play in1894
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > have knowledge, know [verb (transitive)] > make or keep informed
familiarize1593
to keep up to1889
to put (one) wise (to)1896
to wise up1905
1593 A. Chute tr. Remonstrances f. 9 You haue much more familiarisde your selfe with our Towne of Paris then erst.
1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. ii. vi. 215 In some sort there is a meane to familiarize our selves with it [sc. death], and to assay-it.
1646 J. Temple Irish Rebell. 7 They began to..suffer..their English followers to familiarize themselves into their beastly manners and customes.
1741 J. Lawry & H. Heaton in Athenian Lett. I. xlii. 164 Having familiariz'd myself much of late with the hieroglyphical imagery.
1770 F. Brooke tr. N. E. Framéry Mem. Marquis de St. Forlaix III. liv. 106 When you know my misfortunes, I can talk to you of them often; and 'tis only by talking of them that I can familiarize myself to them.
1841 T. Moore Poet. Wks. VI. Pref. p. xvii To..familiarise myself with its various treasures.
1871 Amer. Encycl. Printing 451/2 It is highly important for a compositor to thoroughly familiarize himself with the style of the office in which he is employed.
1956 N.Y. Times 6 May f18 (advt.) There is an opportunity to familiarize yourself with current large-scale digital machines.
1988 D. French Working (1991) xi. 357 Bruce made a motion to postpone my court appearance until he could familiarize himself with the case.
2009 P. Carr-Gomm & R. Heygate Bk. Eng. Magic iv. 157 First familiarise yourself with the Grail stories and their landscape.
b. transitive. To make (a person, the mind, etc.) well acquainted with or knowledgeable about something; (also) to habituate or accustom. Chiefly with with (also to, †into, †to do, or †infinitive). Also intransitive.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > do habitually [verb (transitive)] > accustom (a person) > adapt to circumstances > familiarize a person with a thing
frequent1588
acquaint1589
naturalize1598
familiarize1635
1635 J. Hayward in tr. G. F. Biondi Donzella Desterrada Epist. to Rdr. sig. A3v Familiarizing thy memory with Poems of this nature.
1673 R. Ferguson Sober Enq. Nature of Moral Virtue iii. 227 Much more should the consideration of sin and guilt, familiarize us to self-abasement and prostration.
a1687 W. Petty Polit. Arithm. (1691) i. 17 He is familiarized with Hardships and Hazards.
1758 Crit. Rev. Feb. 158 To familiarise us with that fatal time, when even the justest man must tremble.
1778 T. Warton Hist. Eng. Poetry II. xvii. 414 The Latin code and judicial processes, hitherto adopted in France, familiarised the people to a base Latinity.
1830 J. F. W. Herschel Prelim. Disc. Study Nat. Philos. 22 By familiarising us..to walk uprightly.
1837 A. W. Fonblanque Eng. under Seven Admin. III. 23 The first effect may be to startle; but the second will be to familiarise.
1863 J. Tyndall Heat iii. 61 My object here is to familiarise your minds with the general conception of atomic motion.
1906 Jrnl. Inst. Electr. Engineers 37 42 The gas companies have familiarised the public to the placing of lights within the field of view both for indoor and outdoor lighting.
1999 Community Care 6 May 18/3 A family who can familiarise them with the community and culture that is their heritage.
c. intransitive. With with. To gain knowledge or experience of something; to become habituated or accustomed to something.In early use often as an extended use of sense 1b.Somewhat rare before late 20th cent.
ΚΠ
1648 R. P. Coll. gathered out of D. Rogers's Pract. Catech. ii. vii. 202 To familiarize with it [sc. the promise]: get it by heart till it bee easie: make it thy bosom-friend.
1762 B. F. E. tr. M.-A. Marin Perfect Relig. 66 You will hinder..your Will from familiarizing with, & attaching herself to evil.
1835 J. Manesca Oral Syst. Teaching Living Langs. (1836) Pref. p. xi The child..would not have time to perceive, distinguish, try, and familiarize with the vocal signs.
1979 New Scientist 22 Mar. 983/1 (advt.) The successful candidate will be required to spend a short period at Amersham familiarising with his/her role before assuming duties at Cardiff.
2003 G. Grant & A. Uruthirapathy in ERP & Data Warehousing in Organizations vi. 111 The normal routines of work were disturbed, which frustrated many employees who struggled to familiarize with the new process system.
3. † d. transitive. To present (a term, concept, etc.) in an intelligible form; to popularize. Obsolete.
a. transitive. To divest of strangeness; to render ordinary or commonplace.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > do habitually [verb (transitive)] > render (a thing) habitual > make familiar
accustom1439
familiarize1594
1594 J. Sylvester tr. O. de La Noue Profit Imprisonm. sig. B3v Long continuance and custome lighten much. Familiarizing so the fit that how so frett it Euen in th'extremitie one may almost forget it.
a1670 J. Hacket Scrinia Reserata (1693) i. 75 The Terms of the Common Law..seem Barbarous to the vulgar Ear and had need to be familiariz'd with pre-acquaintance.
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 160. ¶3 The Genius smiled upon me with a Look of..Affability that familiarized him to my Imagination.
1765 S. Johnson Pref. to Shakespear's Plays p. xi Shakespeare..familiarizes the wonderful.
1779 W. Cowper Let. 11 Apr. (1979) I. 291 Long Habit & Custom are able to familiarize to us things much more disagreeable than this.
1883 Harper's Mag. June 117/2 It is a wonderful sight, at least until use has familiarized it, that pulsation of the hot earth artery.
1906 Chinese Recorder Aug. 457/1 Only through time as..use familiarises what now appears uncouth can we hope to have a satisfactory scientific terminology.
1986 J. Chametzky Decentralized Lit. iii. 60 The literature helps to familiarize the strange artifacts of life encountered in the immigrant experience.
2005 N. Zafris Lucky Strike (2006) ix. 182 All her previous experiences attended each new experience, familiarizing it before it had barely begun.
b. transitive. To make well known or better known. Chiefly with to.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > familiarity > know, be conversant with [verb (transitive)] > render familiar
familiarizea1639
intimate1642
converse1704
a1639 H. Wotton Let. in Reliquiæ Wottonianæ (1672) 478 Intending..to familiarize it [sc. a topic] between us as much as I can.
1708 J. Harris Lexicon Technicum (ed. 2) I. at Surveying of Land He may proceed after these or such like Methods, which a little Practice will familiarize to him.
1790 W. Huntington Epist. of Faith: Second Pt. 206 By sudden and short visits and withdrawments, the Lord makes himself known, and familiarizes himself to us.
1846 J. Joyce Sci. Dialogues i. 2 Your drawing compasses may familiarize to your mind the idea of an angle.
1875 W. S. Hayward Love against World 14 Horses and hounds recognized that shout, familiarized to them by many a good run.
1919 Pop. Educator Nov. 155/2 Words learned must be familiarized by use in the speech of other class work.
1960 Billboard 10 Oct. 20/5 The juvenile credit program received plenty of mention..and in this way the idea was familiarized to literally hundreds of Grand Junction high school students every week.
2007 H. Scott in H. Scott & B. Simms Cultures of Power in Europe during Long 18th Cent. iv. 59 It is usually asserted that the writings of Edmund Burke familiarised the term [sc. ‘diplomacy’] to anglophone readers.
c. transitive. To give a familiar form to (a name).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > naming > give a name to [verb (transitive)] > give or call by nickname > give familiar form to (name)
familiarize1711
1711 J. Addison Spectator No. 135. ¶11 Our Proper Names, when familiarized in English, generally dwindle to Monosyllables.
1804 W. Irving Let. 25 Dec. in Life & Lett. (1864) I. vi. 94 An invincible propensity to familiarize the names of people.
1912 Catholic World Nov. 207 Humanity..has a way of familiarizing the name of the one to whom it gives its special affection.
2005 M. C. Hyter & J. L. Turnock Power of Inclusion vii. 225 He did not make the mistake of shortening or familiarizing names, as we do so quickly in the West.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > clearness, lucidity > simplifying, popularization > simplify, popularize [verb (transitive)]
explainc1425
moderate1557
facilitate1605
to bring down1719–20
simplify1750
familiarize1752
popularize1799
1752 S. Johnson Rambler No. 208. ⁋11 I have familiarized the terms of philosophy by applying them to popular ideas.
1781 S. Johnson Pope in Pref. Wks. Eng. Poets VII. 184 This mode of imitation, in which the ancients are familiarised, by adapting their sentiments to modern topicks.
1807 W. Taylor in Ann. Rev. 5 563 The discussion served to familiarize the words congress, general government [etc.].
1834 E. W. Brayley in Graphic & Hist. Illustr. Pref. p.iii By treating them in a pleasing and popular manner, it was my wish to familiarize Archæological inquiries.
4. transitive. To tame or domesticate (an animal). Cf. familiar adj. 4a. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > animal keeping practices general > [verb (transitive)] > tame or train
temec1000
tamec1315
faite1362
daunt1377
afaitea1393
reclaima1393
chastisec1400
makea1425
meekc1429
break1474
enter1490
train?1532
law1534
dressc1540
meeken1591
correct1594
subjugate1595
cicure1599
unwild1605
cicurate1606
mancipate1623
familiarize1634
domesticate1641
gentle1651
domesticize1656
civilize1721
educate1760
domiciliate1782
1634 W. Tirwhyt tr. J. L. G. de Balzac Lett. 205 Since we are forced to live among savage creatures, wee had neede..to familiarise [Fr. adoucir]..them.
1682 J. Norris tr. Hierocles Golden Verses 35 Which is the method men take to tame and familiarize wild beasts.
1752 L. Chappelow Comm. Bk. Job II. xxvii. 372 To strive to familiarize the wild and exasperated mother [lion].
1844 S. Williams Boy's Treasury Sports 159 Nothing is useless which familiarises the horse.
1905 Cent. Mag. Aug. 532/1 A man brought me afterward a family of three [squirrels], too old ever to be thoroughly familiarized.
Derivatives
faˈmiliarized adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > knowledge, what is known > familiarity > [adjective]
couthOE
known1340
familiara1398
unstrangec1400
learnedc1420
conversant1430
beknown?c1475
well-beknown1480
quentc1540
well-kent1554
quainted1560
well-known1568
obversant1579
conversed1607
tame1609
familiarized1633
intimatea1680
household1761
homely1782
ole1835
old1898
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > [adjective] > accustomed, used, or wont > familiar with or experienced in anything > made familiar with
familiarized1633
1633 H. Wotton Let. in Reliquiæ Wottonianæ (1672) 366 Custom hath taught me to bear them better, being now familiarized and domesticated evils.
1654 R. Whitlock Ζωοτομία 241 This familiarized Book [sc. the Bible].
1726 J. Swift Gulliver II. iii. vii. 99 I soon grew so familiarized to the sight of Spirits, that..they gave me no Emotion at all.
1832 R. Lander & J. Lander Jrnl. Exped. Niger I. v. 215 Their faces had become familiarized to us.
1867 Journey of Discov. All round House 247/2 Caroline assumes the familiarised or pet forms of Carrie, Callie, Caro, and Cal.
1876 W. Black Madcap Violet viii. 73 She would have got familiarised with us, and stayed on indefinitely.
1919 Times 23 Oct. 20/1 It may take time for American investors to become familiarized with the purchase of foreign securities.
1997 CMJ New Music Monthly Feb. 27/1 Crossover hits work by introducing the masses to a familiarized rendition of a musical style that is new and exotic to them.
faˈmiliarizer n.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > intelligibility > clearness, lucidity > simplifying, popularization > [noun] > one who popularizes or simplifies
familiarizer1696
simplificator1829
popularizer1831
simplicist1891
exotericist1954
1696 tr. G. Croese Gen. Hist. Quakers iii. 220 Modesty, that Familiarizer and Governess of all other Virtues.
1872 R. A. Proctor Ess. Astron. iii. 37 In the less dignified rôle of a familiariser he was not successful.
1996 W. Roth et al. Probl. Solving for Results iv. 86 Executive-level familiarizers would be able to say: ‘Don't just listen. See for yourselves. This is what we are talking about. This is how it works.’
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2013; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
v.a1586