'Former' definitions:

Definition of 'former'

(from WordNet)
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" [ant: latter(a)]
adjective
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)]
adjective
(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)]
adjective
Belonging to the distant past; "the early inhabitants of Europe"; "former generations"; "in other times" [syn: early(a), former(a), other(a)]
noun
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]

Definition of 'Former'

From: GCIDE
  • 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 latter and former rain. --Hosea vi. 3. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Near the beginning; preceeding; as, the former part of a discourse or argument. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. Earlier, as between two things mentioned together; first mentioned. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Former'

From: GCIDE
  • Former \Form"er\, n.
  • 1. One who forms; a maker; a creator. [1913 Webster]
  • 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. [1913 Webster]