Noah Webster
Former
FORM'ER, noun He that forms; a maker; an author.
FOR'MER, adjective comparative deg.
1. Before in time; preceding another or something else in order of time; opposed to latter.
Her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled. Deuteronomy 24:4.
2. Past, and frequently ancient, long past.
For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age. Job 8:8.
3. Near the beginning; preceding; as the former part of a discourse or argument.
4. Mentioned before another.
A bad author deserves better usage than a bad critic; a man may be the former merely through the misfortune of want of judgment; but he cannot be the latter without both that and an ill temper.