Former, a.
Etymology: [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.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Former, 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.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for former; he lists it under cause, previous.
Where he writes about it:
Former is used of time, or of position in written or printed matter, not of space in general. — from previous
We can say former times, a former chapter, etc., but not the former part of a garden; we should say the front part of the garden, the forward car of a train. — from previous
Former has a close relation, or sharp contrast, with something following; the former always implies the latter, even when not fully expressed, as in Acts i, 1, and Eccles. vii, 10. — from previous