FORM'ER, noun He that forms; a maker; an author. FOR'MER, adjective comparative deg. 1. Before in time; preceding another or something else in order of time; opposed to latter. Her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled. Deuteronomy 24:4. 2. Past, and frequently ancient, long past. For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age. Job 8:8. 3. Near the beginning; preceding; as the former part of a discourse or argument. 4. Mentioned before another. 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 cannot be the latter without both that and an ill temper.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI