Former

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. One who forms; a maker; a creator.

2. A shape around which an article is to be shaped, molded, woven wrapped, pasted, or otherwise constructed.

3. A templet, pattern, or gauge by which an article is shaped.

4. A cutting die.

Part of speech: adjective (a.)

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 former rain. Hosea vi. 3.

2. Near the beginning; preceeding; as, the former part of a discourse or argument.

3. 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 an ill judgment; but he can not be latter without both that and an ill temper. Pope.

Synonyms: Prior; previous; anterior; antecedent; preceding; foregoing.