former

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the first of two or the first mentioned of two

   Tom and Dick were both heroes but only the former is remembered today

2. 2
   adj

   Previous.

   A former president

3. 3
   adj

   First of aforementioned two items. Used with the, often without a noun.

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

4. 4
   noun

   Someone who forms something; a maker; a creator or founder.

   Dave was the former of the company.

5. 5
   noun

   An object used to form something, such as a template, gauge, or cutting die.

   The brick arch was built using a wooden former.

6. 6
   noun

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

   Fifth-former.

7. 7
   adj

   referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)

8. 8
   adj

   belonging to the distant past

Etymology

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.