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Former

//ˈfɔɹmɚ// adj, noun

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Previous. not-comparable

    "A former president"

  2. 2
    First of aforementioned two items. Used with the, often without a noun. not-comparable

    "The former is a good idea but the latter is not."

Adjective
  1. 1
    referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several) wordnet
  2. 2
    belonging to the distant past wordnet
  3. 3
    belonging to some prior time wordnet
  4. 4
    (used especially of persons) of the immediate past wordnet
Noun
  1. 1
    Someone who forms something; a maker; a creator or founder.

    "Dave was the former of the company."

  2. 2
    the first of two or the first mentioned of two wordnet
  3. 3
    An object used to form something, such as a template, gauge, or cutting die.

    "The brick arch was built using a wooden former."

  4. 4
    Someone in, or of, a certain form (class). British

    "Fifth-former."

Etymology

Etymology 1

Inherited from Middle English former, comparative of forme (“first”), from Old English forma (“first”), descended from Proto-Germanic *frumô. Parallel to prior (via Latin), as comparative form from same Proto-Indo-European root. Related to first and fore (thence before), from Proto-Germanic.

Etymology 2

Inherited from Middle English formere. By surface analysis, form + -er.

See also for "former"

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