former

former
I UK [ˈfɔː(r)mə(r)] / US [ˈfɔrmər] adjective, pronoun ***
Summary:

Former can be used in the following ways: - as an adjective (only before a noun): She still visits her former husband. - as a pronoun (after "the"): Given the choice between rose pink and olive green, I'd choose the former every time.
1) used for describing someone or something that had a particular job, title, status etc in the past, but not now

The ceremony honoured all the former presidents who are still living.

the former Soviet Union

He abandoned his former career as a geologist.

2) formal used for referring to times in the past

Marble pillars and high painted ceilings remain from former times.

3) formal used for referring to the first of two people or things that you have mentioned. Use the latter to refer to the second person or thing

Both Williams and Andrews claim the property. The former insists that it was a gift.

•

be a shadow/ghost of your former self — to be much less healthy or successful, or to be in much worse condition than before

He returned from the war a shadow of his former self.


II UK [ˈfɔː(r)mə(r)] / US [ˈfɔrmər] noun

first/second/third etc former — British

old-fashioned a student in the first/second/third etc year of secondary school


English dictionary. 2014.

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Synonyms:
, , , , / , , , , , / , , , / , , , , / ,


Look at other dictionaries:

  • former — [ fɔrme ] v. tr. <conjug. : 1> • XIIe; lat. formare I ♦ Donner l être et la forme. 1 ♦ (En parlant du Créateur, de la Nature) ⇒ créer, 1. faire, informer. « Dieu forma l homme à son image » ( BIBLE ). 2 ♦ Vx Concevoir, engendrer. « Songez… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • former — Former. v. a. Donner l estre & la forme. Dieu a formé l univers suivant l idée éternelle qu il en avoit. Dieu a formé l homme à son image, l a formé du limon de la terre. Il sign. aussi Produire, dans le sens que les causes naturelles, que les… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • former — former, latter 1. These two words are used individually or contrastively (as the former and the latter) to refer to the first and second respectively of two people or things previously mentioned; in this role they are used attributively (before a …   Modern English usage

  • former — I adjective antecedent, bygone, earlier, erstwhile, foregoing, late, past, preceding, preexistent, previous, prior, pristinus, quondam, retired, whilom associated concepts: former adjudication, former conviction, former jeopardy, former marriage …   Law dictionary

  • former — for‧mer [ˈfɔːmə ǁ ˈfɔːrmər] adjective [only before a noun] happening or existing in the past, but not now: • the former chairman of United Telecommunications Inc * * * former UK US /ˈfɔːmər/ adjective [before noun] ► used to describe something… …   Financial and business terms

  • 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 Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Former — war von 1935 bis 1997 ein Ausbildungsberuf in Deutschland. Allgemein Former arbeiten in Gießereien und stellen dort Gussformen her, die für das Gießen von Werkstücken aus Stahl, Eisen oder anderen Metallen benötigt werden. Seit der Ablösung des… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • former — Ⅰ. former [1] ► ADJECTIVE 1) having been previously. 2) of or occurring in the past. 3) (the former) denoting the first of two things mentioned. ORIGIN Old English. Ⅱ. for …   English terms dictionary

  • former — Former, Formare, Conformare, Fingere. Former paravant et façonner, Praeformare. Se former en maniere et forme d un fond de nef, Carinare. Homme bien formé, Homo emendatis omnibus membris, B. Qui forme, façonne ou instruit en bonnes meurs,… …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • former — former1 [fôr′mər] adj. [ME formere, compar. of forme, first < OE forma: see FOREMOST] 1. preceding in time; earlier; past [in former times] 2. first mentioned of two: often used absolutely (with the) [Jack and Bill are twins, but the former is …   English World dictionary

  • former — fòrmer m DEFINICIJA reg. keramičar koji peče keramičke i dr. pločice i sl. za peći (ali ih ne sastavlja kao pećar) ETIMOLOGIJA njem. Former …   Hrvatski jezični portal

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