former

former
\ \ [12] Former is a comparative form based on Middle English formefirst (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 *forabefore’ (whence also English first, for, and fore). So untangling the suffixal accretions of centuries, former means etymologically ‘more most before’.
\ \ Cf.FIRST, FOR, FORE, PRIMARY

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • former — [ fɔrme ] v. tr. <conjug. : 1> • XIIe; lat. formare I ♦ Donner l être et la forme. 1 ♦ (En parlant du Créateur, de la Nature) ⇒ créer, 1. faire, informer. « Dieu forma l homme à son image » ( BIBLE ). 2 ♦ Vx Concevoir, engendrer. « Songez… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • former — Former. v. a. Donner l estre & la forme. Dieu a formé l univers suivant l idée éternelle qu il en avoit. Dieu a formé l homme à son image, l a formé du limon de la terre. Il sign. aussi Produire, dans le sens que les causes naturelles, que les… …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • former — former, latter 1. These two words are used individually or contrastively (as the former and the latter) to refer to the first and second respectively of two people or things previously mentioned; in this role they are used attributively (before a …   Modern English usage

  • former — I adjective antecedent, bygone, earlier, erstwhile, foregoing, late, past, preceding, preexistent, previous, prior, pristinus, quondam, retired, whilom associated concepts: former adjudication, former conviction, former jeopardy, former marriage …   Law dictionary

  • former — for‧mer [ˈfɔːmə ǁ ˈfɔːrmər] adjective [only before a noun] happening or existing in the past, but not now: • the former chairman of United Telecommunications Inc * * * former UK US /ˈfɔːmər/ adjective [before noun] ► used to describe something… …   Financial and business terms

  • 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 Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Former — war von 1935 bis 1997 ein Ausbildungsberuf in Deutschland. Allgemein Former arbeiten in Gießereien und stellen dort Gussformen her, die für das Gießen von Werkstücken aus Stahl, Eisen oder anderen Metallen benötigt werden. Seit der Ablösung des… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • former — Ⅰ. former [1] ► ADJECTIVE 1) having been previously. 2) of or occurring in the past. 3) (the former) denoting the first of two things mentioned. ORIGIN Old English. Ⅱ. for …   English terms dictionary

  • former — Former, Formare, Conformare, Fingere. Former paravant et façonner, Praeformare. Se former en maniere et forme d un fond de nef, Carinare. Homme bien formé, Homo emendatis omnibus membris, B. Qui forme, façonne ou instruit en bonnes meurs,… …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • former — former1 [fôr′mər] adj. [ME formere, compar. of forme, first < OE forma: see FOREMOST] 1. preceding in time; earlier; past [in former times] 2. first mentioned of two: often used absolutely (with the) [Jack and Bill are twins, but the former is …   English World dictionary

  • former — fòrmer m DEFINICIJA reg. keramičar koji peče keramičke i dr. pločice i sl. za peći (ali ih ne sastavlja kao pećar) ETIMOLOGIJA njem. Former …   Hrvatski jezični portal

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