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former
1[ fawr-mer ]
adjective
- preceding in time; prior or earlier:
The first contestants were eliminated during a former stage in the proceedings.
- past, long past, or ancient:
In former times, willow was consumed for pain.
- preceding in order; being the first of two:
Our former manufacturing process was too costly.
Synonyms: antecedent, foregoing
- being the first mentioned of two ( latter ):
The former suggestion was preferred to the latter one.
- having once, or previously, been; erstwhile:
Every former president receives a lifelong security detail.
noun
- the for·mer, the first mentioned of two ( the latter ):
There are still economy and business class tickets available, but be sure to book the former if you're on a budget.
former
1/ ˈfɔːmə /
adjective
- belonging to or occurring in an earlier time
former glory
- having been at a previous time
a former colleague
- denoting the first or first mentioned of two
in the former case
- near the beginning
noun
- the formerthe first or first mentioned of two: distinguished from latter
former
2/ ˈfɔːmə /
noun
- a person or thing that forms or shapes
- electrical engineering a tool for giving a coil or winding the required shape, sometimes consisting of a frame on which the wire can be wound, the frame then being removed
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Word History and Origins
Origin of former1
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Example Sentences
Former Red Sox star Curt Schilling says his politics are keeping him out of Cooperstown.
Like many Americans—but few Republican presidential candidates—the former Florida governor has evolved on the issue.
And now, similarly, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee: "Bend over and take it like a prisoner!"
Current and former intelligence officials have said North Korea has long been a priority target for American spies.
Lalo said he reported the kidnapping to his ICE handlers, which was confirmed by a former federal agent familiar with the case.
Without the former quality, knowledge of the past is uninstructive; without the latter, it is deceptive.
The enemy were pursued and annoyed by a few hundred of the citizens under Wooster and Arnold; the former was killed.
The latter trod on the toes of the former, whereupon the former threatened to "kick out of the cabin" the latter.
My husband detests them; on the contrary, I like those carriages, for they tell me of happy—I mean to say, of former times.
There seemed the flavour of some strange authority in her that baffled all approach to the former intimacy.
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