former

• adj. 从前的，前者的；前任的
• n. 模型，样板；起形成作用的人
• n. (Former)人名；(法)福尔梅；(德、捷)福尔默

来自古英语forma的比较级，来自PIE*pre-mo, 最早的，*pre-, 在先，词源同far, *mo, 最高级后缀，词源同intimate, ultimate. 该词实际上是最高级的比较级。比较foremost.

1. the first of two or the first mentioned of two;

"Tom and Dick were both heroes but only the former is remembered today"

former

former: [12] Former is a comparative form based on Middle English forme ‘first (in time or order)’, on the analogy of the superlative foremost [16] (which was originally formost [12]; the modern spelling came about through association with fore and most). Forme itself goes back to Old English forma, which was a descendant of a prehistoric Germanic superlative from derived from *fora ‘before’ (whence also English first, for, and fore). So untangling the suffixal accretions of centuries, former means etymologically ‘more most before’.
=> first, for, fore, primary

former (adj.)

"earlier in time," mid-12c., comparative of forme "first, earliest in time or order," from Old English forma "first," from Proto-Germanic *fruma-, *furma-, from PIE *pre-mo-, suffixed (superlative) form of root *per- (1) "forward, through; before; first" (see per). Probably patterned on formest (see foremost); it is an unusual case of a comparative formed from a superlative (the Old English -m is a superlative suffix). As "first of two," 1580s.

former (n.)

"one who gives form," mid-14c., agent noun from form (v.). The Latin agent noun was formator.

previous, foregoing, preceding, prior, former

这些形容词均可表示"在前的"之意。

previous： 指时间上、顺序上较早的，或指正在谈论的某事的前一个。

foregoing： 指前所述的，是following的反义词。

preceding： 特指时间和地位上紧接在前。

prior与previous同义，常可换用，但prior有时强调更大的重要性，对比意味强。

former系latter的反义词，比prior更着重对比。

Global warming is causing more than 300,000 deaths and about $125 billion in economic losses each year, according to a report by the Global Humanitarian Forum, an organization led by Annan, the former United Nations secretary general.

出自-2011年6月阅读原文

"It's been postponed until 2017," says Anna Somers, the founder and CEO of The Art Newspaper and the former head of Venice in Peril, a group devoted to restoring Venetian art.

2018年6月四级真题（第二套）阅读 Section B

"It's been postponed until 2018," says Anna Somers, the founder and CEO of The Art Newspaper and the former head of Venice in Peril, a group devoted to restoring Venetian art.

2017年12月四级真题（第一套）阅读 Section B

A California television station in Fresno reported Tuesday that James Savage set a record as the youngest swimmer to make the journey to the former prison.

2019年6月四级真题（第一套）听力 Section A

According to Leslie, those who ridiculed former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld for his 2002 remark that we have to be wary of the unknown unknowns were mistaken.

2017年12月四级真题（第二套）阅读 Section B

Following the Harvard scandal, Mary Miller, the former dean of students at Yale, made an impassioned appeal to her school's professors to refrain from take-home exams.

2017年12月四级真题（第一套）阅读 Section B

In an effort to understand the matter further, I spoke with doctors Mark Beckhoff a researcher and former professor of animal behavior.

2019年12月四级真题（第二套）听力 Section C

On the other hand, scientists are increasingly learning that aging and biological age are two different things, and that the former is a key risk factor for conditions such as heart disease, cancer and many more.

2017年12月四级真题（第二套）阅读 Section C

The former head of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, which oversees heritage sites, is Francesco Bandarin, a Venetian who now serves as UNESCO' assistant director- general for culture.

2018年6月四级真题（第二套）阅读 Section B

And I’m going to pick a definition from a former colleague, Robert Sternberg, who is now the dean at Tufts University, but was here on our faculty at Yale for nearly 30 years.

出自-2016年12月听力原文

As a former high school teacher, I saw students choose familiar, cheaper options year after year.

出自-2015年12月阅读原文

As former Dean of Harvard College.

出自-2014年6月阅读原文

Jack White, the former front man of the White Stripes and an influential figure among fellow musicians, likes to make things difficult for himself.

出自-2013年12月阅读原文

Former George Washington University president Stephen Trachtenberg estimates that a typical college uses its facilities for academic purposes a little more than half the calendar year.

出自-2012年6月阅读原文

Most high governmental officials seem to conceive of education in this light—as a way to ensure economic competitiveness and continued economic growth," Derek Bok, former president of Harvard, told The Washington Post

出自-2012年6月阅读原文

The former ethic suggested success was founded on integrity, modesty, loyalty, courage, patience, and so forth.

出自-2011年12月阅读原文

And I'm going to pick a definition from a former colleague, Robert Sternberg, who is now the dean at Tufts University, but was here on our faculty at Yale for nearly 30 years.

2016年12月六级真题（第一套）听力 Section C

As a former high school teacher, I saw students choose familiar,cheaper options year after year.

2015年12月六级真题（第三套）阅读 Section B

George Grune, a former ad salesman who joined Reader s digest in 1960 has his eye focused on the bottom line.

2018年6月六级真题（第一套）听力 Section C

Ludacris and the former CEO of Bank of America Ken Lewis are alumni of my college, as well as VICE's first female editor-in-chief, Ellis Jones.

2018年6月六级真题（第三套）阅读 Section B

since the former is most common among those inclined towards indifferent relationships, their predominance can bolster individuals' sense of self-worth.

2019年6月六级真题（第三套）阅读 Section C

In the former case, we keep putting off a task because it has either too boring or too difficult.

2016年高考英语天津卷 阅读理解 阅读D 原文

Maurice Ashley was kind and smart, a former graduate returning to teach, and this job was no game for him: he meant business.

2018年高考英语全国卷I 完形填空 原文

Now this former royal palace is open to the public as a major tourist attraction.

2015年高考英语全国卷2 阅读理解 阅读D 原文

One day I met a former classmate of mine who was making a lot of money running a sideline.

2018年高考英语浙江卷 完形填空 原文

That former prisoner was cervantes, and the book was don quixote.

2019年高考英语天津卷 阅读理解 阅读D 原文

That is why fish prefer shallow water to deep water because the former is warmer.

2015年高考英语广东卷 阅读理解 阅读B 原文

The family rented a former church in downtown portland and scheduled a concert.

2019年高考英语江苏卷 阅读理解 阅读D 原文

Through the years, I'd run into former students who would provide updates on old classmates.

2017年高考英语全国卷2 完形填空 原文

In the former case the education is incidental; it is natural and important, but it is not the express reason of the association.

出自-2009年考研翻译原文

The high court’s decision said the judge in Mr.McDonnell’s trial failed to tell a jury that it must look only at his “official acts,” or the former governor’s decisions on “specific” and “unsettled” issues related to his duties.

出自-2017年考研阅读原文

In a rare unanimous ruling, the US Supreme Court has overturned the corruption conviction of a former Virginia governor, Robert McDonnell.

出自-2017年考研阅读原文

This beautiful old building has been restored to its former glory .

这座美丽的老建筑物已恢复了昔日的壮观。

牛津词典

the former world champion

前世界冠军

牛津词典

my former boss/colleague/wife

过去的老板 / 同事；前妻

牛津词典

The former option would be much more sensible.

前一种选择要明智得多。

牛津词典

He had to choose between giving up his job and giving up his principles. He chose the former.

他得在放弃工作和放弃原则二者中择其一。他选择了前者。

牛津词典

the countries of the former Soviet Union

前苏联加盟共和国

牛津词典

in former times

从前

牛津词典

The unemployed executives include former sales managers, directors and accountants.

被解雇的管理人员包括前销售经理、主管和会计。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

...former President Richard Nixon...

前总统理查德·尼克松

柯林斯高阶英语词典

...the former Soviet Union.

前苏联

柯林斯高阶英语词典

...the former Yugoslavia.

前南斯拉夫

柯林斯高阶英语词典

...the former home of Sir Christopher Wren.

克里斯托弗·雷恩爵士的旧居

柯林斯高阶英语词典

...a former monastery.

昔日的修道院

柯林斯高阶英语词典

He would want you to remember him as he was in former years.

他可能会希望你记住他早年的样子。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

Given the choice between a pure white T-shirt and a more expensive, dirty cream one, most people can be forgiven for choosing the former...

如果要在一件纯白的 T 恤和一件更贵的脏兮兮的米色 T 恤之间选择的话，多数人都会选前者，这是无可厚非的。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

If the family home and joint pension rights are of equal value, the wife may choose the former and the husband the latter.

如果家庭住房和共同养老金具有同样的价值，妻子可能会选前者，而丈夫会选后者。

柯林斯高阶英语词典

Her teemed with ideas.

她脑子里主意多.

期刊摘选

She is very virulent about her former employer.

她对她过去的老板恨之入骨.

《简明英汉词典》

Of the two the latter is better than the former.

二者中后者比前者好.

《现代英汉综合大词典》

He duplicated his former mistakes.

他又犯了和以前一样的错误.

《现代英汉综合大词典》

A former loafter, he is now an advanced worker.

他这个昔日浪子, 今日成了先进工作者.

《现代汉英综合大词典》

That forceful young woman edged out the former headmaster and is now headmaster herself.

那个强硬的年轻女人排挤走了前任校长,她现在自己当校长.

《简明英汉词典》

The robins occupied their former nest.

那些知更鸟占了它们的老窝.

《现代汉英综合大词典》

He'll go to great lengths to get his child back from his former wife.

不管花多大力气,他都要把孩子从前妻那里要回来.

《简明英汉词典》