Definition of Former

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"

Generic synonyms: First, Number One
Antonyms: Latter

2. 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"
Antonyms: Latter

3. Adjective. Belonging to some prior time. "Her quondam lover"
Exact synonyms: Erstwhile, Old, One-time, Onetime, Quondam, Sometime
Similar to: Past

4. Adjective. (used especially of persons) of the immediate past. "The previous occupant of the White House"
Exact synonyms: Late, Previous
Similar to: Past

5. Adjective. Belonging to the distant past. "In other times"
Exact synonyms: Early, Other
Similar to: Past

Definition of Former

1. n. One who forms; a maker; a creator.

2. a. Preceding in order of time; antecedent; previous; prior; earlier; hence, ancient; long past.

Definition of Former

1. Adjective. previous ¹

2. Adjective. first of aforementioned two items. Used with ''the'', often without a noun. ¹

3. Noun. Someone who forms something. ¹

4. Noun. An object used to form something. ¹

5. Noun. (chiefly British used in combinations) Someone in, or of, a certain form (class). ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Former

1. one that forms [n -S] - See also: forms

Lexicographical Neighbors of Former

formay
formazan
formazans
formboard
formboards
forme
forme fruste
formed
formed visual hallucination
formedness
formedon
formedons
formee
formell
formelt
former (current term)
former(a)
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
formeret
formerets
formerly
formers
formes
formestane
formeth
formfeed
formfeeds
formfilling
formfitting
formful

Literary usage of Former

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides, Henry Dale, Thomas Arnold (1873)
"... but inasmuch as they consider them traitors to their former friend«, they have a meaner opinion of them. And this is no unfair estimate of their conduct ..."

2. Walden by Henry David Thoreau (1910)
"XIV former INHABITANTS; AND WINTER VISITORS I WEATHERED some merry ... For human society I was obliged to conjure up the former occupants of these woods. ..."

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