Can you use “familiar” as a noun without sacrificing its meaning as an adjective?
In my novel, my character Gus describes his unborn child, saying, "They were an enigma and a familiar just the same."
In this quote, the point I'm trying to make is that - they were a mystery yet at the same time, they weren't.
"Familiar" sounds like the most naturally fitting word here but according to the dictionary description of the word "familiar" as a noun, I'm not sure it's entirely correct.
word-usage nouns
asked 2 hours ago
Margaret BeltMargaret Belt
115
add a comment |
In my novel, my character Gus describes his unborn child, saying, "They were an enigma and a familiar just the same."
In this quote, the point I'm trying to make is that - they were a mystery yet at the same time, they weren't.
"Familiar" sounds like the most naturally fitting word here but according to the dictionary description of the word "familiar" as a noun, I'm not sure it's entirely correct.
word-usage nouns
asked 2 hours ago
Margaret BeltMargaret Belt
115
I don't recognise that meaning. I would possibly understand your intention, but it would trip me up. The meaning of "familiar" as a noun that comes to mind is a magician's spirit or animal servant.
– Colin Fine
1 hour ago
1
... "a familiar" reeks of the supernatural.
– Cascabel
1 hour ago
Certainly, in the US, the nounish word "familiar" is more than occasionally used to mean "friend" or "buddy". Usually in plural: "He discussed the situation with his familiars." (Though I note on Ngram that the term has fallen in use in the past 50 years.)
– Hot Licks
1 hour ago
add a comment |
In my novel, my character Gus describes his unborn child, saying, "They were an enigma and a familiar just the same."
In this quote, the point I'm trying to make is that - they were a mystery yet at the same time, they weren't.
"Familiar" sounds like the most naturally fitting word here but according to the dictionary description of the word "familiar" as a noun, I'm not sure it's entirely correct.
word-usage nouns
asked 2 hours ago
Margaret BeltMargaret Belt
115
In my novel, my character Gus describes his unborn child, saying, "They were an enigma and a familiar just the same."
In this quote, the point I'm trying to make is that - they were a mystery yet at the same time, they weren't.
"Familiar" sounds like the most naturally fitting word here but according to the dictionary description of the word "familiar" as a noun, I'm not sure it's entirely correct.
word-usage nouns
word-usage nouns
asked 2 hours ago
Margaret BeltMargaret Belt
115
asked 2 hours ago
Margaret BeltMargaret Belt
115
edited 5 mins ago
Margaret Belt
asked 2 hours ago
Margaret BeltMargaret Belt
115
asked 2 hours ago
Margaret BeltMargaret Belt
115
asked 2 hours ago
Margaret BeltMargaret Belt
115
115
I don't recognise that meaning. I would possibly understand your intention, but it would trip me up. The meaning of "familiar" as a noun that comes to mind is a magician's spirit or animal servant.
– Colin Fine
1 hour ago
1
... "a familiar" reeks of the supernatural.
– Cascabel
1 hour ago
Certainly, in the US, the nounish word "familiar" is more than occasionally used to mean "friend" or "buddy". Usually in plural: "He discussed the situation with his familiars." (Though I note on Ngram that the term has fallen in use in the past 50 years.)
– Hot Licks
1 hour ago
add a comment |
I don't recognise that meaning. I would possibly understand your intention, but it would trip me up. The meaning of "familiar" as a noun that comes to mind is a magician's spirit or animal servant.
– Colin Fine
1 hour ago
1
... "a familiar" reeks of the supernatural.
– Cascabel
1 hour ago
Certainly, in the US, the nounish word "familiar" is more than occasionally used to mean "friend" or "buddy". Usually in plural: "He discussed the situation with his familiars." (Though I note on Ngram that the term has fallen in use in the past 50 years.)
– Hot Licks
1 hour ago
I don't recognise that meaning. I would possibly understand your intention, but it would trip me up. The meaning of "familiar" as a noun that comes to mind is a magician's spirit or animal servant.
– Colin Fine
1 hour ago
I don't recognise that meaning. I would possibly understand your intention, but it would trip me up. The meaning of "familiar" as a noun that comes to mind is a magician's spirit or animal servant.
– Colin Fine
1 hour ago
1
1
... "a familiar" reeks of the supernatural.
– Cascabel
1 hour ago
... "a familiar" reeks of the supernatural.
– Cascabel
1 hour ago
Certainly, in the US, the nounish word "familiar" is more than occasionally used to mean "friend" or "buddy". Usually in plural: "He discussed the situation with his familiars." (Though I note on Ngram that the term has fallen in use in the past 50 years.)
– Hot Licks
1 hour ago
Certainly, in the US, the nounish word "familiar" is more than occasionally used to mean "friend" or "buddy". Usually in plural: "He discussed the situation with his familiars." (Though I note on Ngram that the term has fallen in use in the past 50 years.)
– Hot Licks
1 hour ago
add a comment |
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I don't recognise that meaning. I would possibly understand your intention, but it would trip me up. The meaning of "familiar" as a noun that comes to mind is a magician's spirit or animal servant.
– Colin Fine
1 hour ago
1
... "a familiar" reeks of the supernatural.
– Cascabel
1 hour ago
Certainly, in the US, the nounish word "familiar" is more than occasionally used to mean "friend" or "buddy". Usually in plural: "He discussed the situation with his familiars." (Though I note on Ngram that the term has fallen in use in the past 50 years.)
– Hot Licks
1 hour ago