former

Noun · Adjective
Synonyms: former(a)erstwhile(a)oldonetime(a)one-time(a)quondam(a)sometime(a)late(a)previous(a)early(a)other(a)

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. the first of two or the first mentioned of two“Tom and Dick were both heroes but only the former is remembered today”

Adjective (4)

  1. referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)“the novel was made into a film in 1943 and again in 1967; I prefer the former version to the latter one”Synonyms: former(a)
  2. belonging to some prior time“erstwhile friend”“our former glory”“the once capital of the state”“her quondam lover”Synonyms: erstwhile(a)former(a)oldonetime(a)one-time(a)quondam(a)sometime(a)
  3. (used especially of persons) of the immediate past“the former president”“our late President is still very active”“the previous occupant of the White House”Synonyms: former(a)late(a)previous(a)
  4. belonging to the distant past“the early inhabitants of Europe”“former generations”“in other times”Synonyms: early(a)former(a)other(a)
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Former \For"mer\, a. [A compar. due to OE. formest. See Foremost.]

1.Preceding in order of time; antecedent; previous; prior; earlier; hence, ancient; long past. [1913 Webster]

For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age.— Job. viii. 8.[1913 Webster]
The latter and former rain.— Hosea vi. 3.[1913 Webster]

3.Near the beginning; preceeding; as, the former part of a discourse or argument. [1913 Webster]

3.Earlier, as between two things mentioned together; first mentioned. [1913 Webster]

A bad author deserves better usage than a bad critic; a man may be the former merely through the misfortune of an ill judgment; but he can not be latter without both that and an ill temper.— Pope.

Syn: Prior; previous; anterior; antecedent; preceding; foregoing. [1913 Webster]

Former \Form"er\, n.

1.One who forms; a maker; a creator. [1913 Webster]

2.(Mech.) (a) A shape around which an article is to be shaped, molded, woven wrapped, pasted, or otherwise constructed. (b) A templet, pattern, or gauge by which an article is shaped. (c) A cutting die. [1913 Webster]

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