0 of or in an earlier time; before the present time or in the past -- 较早的，早先的；以前的；旧时的
It was a long time after the accident before he seemed like his former self (= behaved in the way he had before). 事故过后很长时间，他似乎才恢复了先前的样子。
The painting was then restored to its former glory (= returned to its original good condition). 这幅油画又恢复了原先的光彩。
The luxury apartments are in a former factory. 这些豪华公寓的前身是工厂厂房。
the former president of the United States 美国前总统
a former employer 前雇主
his former wife 他的前妻
1 the first of two people, things, or groups previously mentioned -- 前者，前一个
Of the two suggestions, I prefer the former. 这两个建议中，我更喜欢前一个。
2 a student of the stated class group -- 某年级的学生
sixth-formers (= students usually aged 16–18) 六年级学生
The former's strategy was based on working within rather than outside the system and blending old politics and new economics together with his democratic mandate.
Thus, if there is little or inconsistent empirical support for the entry model, the original assumption of instrumental party formers is called into question.
The former's theoretical position took much posthumous teasing-out by critics to become widely understood.
The former's movements were brisk and accompanied by sound, but the latter's seemed a mere parody.
The present work is shorter and more elementary and is designed for sixth formers and undergraduates.
After about 2 weeks in space, the survival was tested from the number of colony formers.
An obvious major difference between corporate and conventional crime is that the former's victims often remain unaware.
Sixth formers agree with both of these statements (each 3.2) significantly more strongly.
