*former*

n. One who conforms; one who complies with established forms or doctrines. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who deforms. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who forms; a maker; a creator. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 latter and former rain. Hosea vi. 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Near the beginning; preceeding; as, the former part of a discourse or argument. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Earlier, as between two things mentioned together; first mentioned. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. ] (Arch.) One of the half ribs against the walls in a ceiling vaulted with ribs. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In time past, either in time immediately preceding or at any indefinite distance; of old; heretofore. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Inform, v. ] 1. One who informs, animates, or inspires. [ Obs. ] Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Nature, informer of the poet's art. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who informs, or imparts knowledge or news. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Law) One who informs a magistrate of violations of law; one who informs against another for violation of some law or penal statute. [ 1913 Webster ]

Common informer (Law), one who habitually gives information of the violation of penal statutes, with a view to a prosecution therefor. Bouvier. Wharton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who gives untrue or incorrect information. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Elec.) A transformer connected in parallel. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. One who performs, accomplishes, or fulfills; as, a good promiser, but a bad performer; especially, one who shows skill and training in any art; as, a performer of the drama; a performer on the harp. [ 1913 Webster ]

. Any of several transformers (there must be at least two) for changing phase. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. 1. One who effects a reformation or amendment; one who labors for, or urges, reform; as, a reformer of manners, or of abuses. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Eccl.Hist.) One of those who commenced the reformation of religion in the sixteenth century, as Luther, Melanchthon, Zwingli, and Calvin. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } [ After N. Tesla, American electrician. ] (Elec.) A transformer without iron, for high frequency alternating or oscillating currents; an oscillation transformer. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]