Form"er (?), n. 1.
One who forms; a maker; a creator.
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.
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.
For inquire, I pray thee, of the former
age.
Job. viii. 8.
The latter and former rain.
Hosea vi. 3.
3. 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.
Syn. -- Prior; previous; anterior; antecedent; preceding;
foregoing.
