Fōrm'er1, n.
n. 1. One who forms; a maker; an author.
- (Mach.) A pattern in or upon which any thing is shaped by pressure.
- A piece of wood used for shaping cartridges and wads. R. H. Dana.
2 entries under this word
Former
Fōr'mer2, a. compar.
a. compar. [A-S. forma, m., forme, f. n., first, Goth. fruma.] 1. Preceding in order of time; antecedent; previous; prior; earlier; hence, ancient; long past. “For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age.” Job viii. 8. “The latter and the former rain.” Hosea vi. 3. Time, with his fairer hand, Offering the fortunes of his former days, The former man may make him. Shak. 2. Earlier, as between two things mentioned together; first mentioned. A bad author deserves better usage than a bad critic: a man may be the former merely through the misfortune of want of judgment; but he can not be the latter without both that and an ill temper. Pope. Syn.—Prior; previous; anterior; antecedent; preceding; foregoing.