former
    adj 1: 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)]
    2: 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)]
    3: (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)]
    4: belonging to the distant past; "the early inhabitants of
       Europe"; "former generations"; "in other times" [syn:
       early(a), former(a), other(a)]
    n 1: 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]

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.
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            For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age. --Job.
                                                  viii. 8.
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            The latter and former rain.           --Hosea vi. 3.
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   3. Near the beginning; preceeding; as, the former part of a
      discourse or argument.
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   3. Earlier, as between two things mentioned together; first
      mentioned.
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            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.
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Former \Form"er\, n.
   1. One who forms; a maker; a creator.
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   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.
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