Former

[fawr-mer] /ˈfɔr mər/

adjective
1.
preceding in time; prior or earlier:
during a former stage in the proceedings.
2.
past, long past, or ancient:
in former times.
3.
preceding in order; being the first of two:
Our former manufacturing process was too costly.
4.
being the first mentioned of two (distinguished from ):
The former suggestion was preferred to the latter.
5.
having once, or previously, been; erstwhile:
a former president.
[fawr-mer] /ˈfɔr mər/
noun
1.
a person or thing that or serves to .
2.
a pupil in a particular form or grade, especially in a British secondary school:
fifth formers.
/ˈfɔːmə/
adjective (prenominal)
1.
belonging to or occurring in an earlier time: former glory
2.
having been at a previous time: a former colleague
3.
denoting the first or first mentioned of two: in the former case
4.
near the beginning
noun
5.
the former, the first or first mentioned of two: distinguished from latter
/ˈfɔːmə/
noun
1.
a person or thing that forms or shapes
2.
(electrical engineering) a tool for giving a coil or winding the required shape, sometimes consisting of a frame on which the wire can be wound, the frame then being removed
adj.

“earlier in time,” mid-12c., comparative of forme “first,” patterned on formest “foremost” (see foremost). An unusual case of a comparative formed from a superlative (the -m- is a superlative element).
n.

“one who gives form,” mid-14c., agent noun from form (v.).