'Former' definitions:
Definition of 'former'
From: WordNet
adjective
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" [ant: latter(a)]
adjective
Belonging to some prior time; "erstwhile friend"; "our former glory"; "the once capital of the state"; "her quondam lover" [syn: erstwhile(a), former(a), old, onetime(a), one- time(a), quondam(a), sometime(a)]
adjective
(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" [syn: former(a), late(a), previous(a)]
adjective
Belonging to the distant past; "the early inhabitants of Europe"; "former generations"; "in other times" [syn: early(a), former(a), other(a)]
noun
The first of two or the first mentioned of two; "Tom and Dick were both heroes but only the former is remembered today" [ant: latter]
Definition of 'Former'
From: 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]
Definition of 'Former'
From: GCIDE
- 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]
Synonyms of 'former'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- aforementioned,
- aforenamed,
- aforesaid,
- ancient,
- antecedent,
- antediluvian,
- anterior,
- anticipatory,
- beforementioned,
- bygone,
- ci-devant,
- departed,
- earlier,
- early,
- elder,
- eldest,
- erstwhile,
- first,
- first-born,
- firstling,
- fore,
- foregoing,
- forementioned,
- forenamed,
- immemorial,
- last,
- late,
- latest,
- major,
- named,
- old,
- olden,
- older,
- oldest,
- once,
- onetime,
- past,
- precedent,
- preceding,
- precurrent,
- preexistent,
- prehistoric,
- previous,
- prime,
- primeval,
- primitive,
- primogenitary,
- prior,
- quondam,
- recent,
- said,
- same,
- senior,
- sometime,
- then,
- whilom
Words containing 'Former'
- Formerly,
- former armed forces,
- sixth-former,
- Caesalpinia formerly Poinciana pulcherrima,
- Dipterix formerly Coumarouna odorata,
- The Denticete including the dolphins and sperm whale which have teeth Another suborder Zeuglodontia is extinct The Sirenia were formerly included in the Cetacea but are now made a separate order