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former

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former¹

  • /ˈfɔɹmɚ/ US
  • /ˈfɔːmə/ UK

Rhymes with -ɔː(ɹ)mə(ɹ)

Where it comes from

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.

adjective

  1. not comparable Previous. A former president

noun fmr · fmr.

  1. singular, singular only The first of aforementioned two items. The former is a good idea but the latter is not.

former²

  • /ˈfɔɹmɚ/ US
  • /ˈfɔːmə/ UK

Rhymes with -ɔː(ɹ)mə(ɹ)

Where it comes from

Inherited from Middle English formere. By surface analysis, form + -er.

noun formers

  1. singular, singular only Someone who forms something; a maker; a creator or founder. Dave was the former of the company.
  2. singular, singular only An object used to form something, such as a template, gauge, or cutting die. The brick arch was built using a wooden former.
  3. UK, singular, singular only Someone in, or of, a certain form (class). Fifth-former.

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