FORMERLY

once, formerly, at one time, erstwhile, erst

(adverb) at a previous time; “at one time he loved her”; “her erstwhile writing”; “she was a dancer once”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Adverb

formerly (not comparable)

at some time in the past

previously; once

Source: Wiktionary


For"mer*ly, adv.

Definition: In time past, either in time immediately preceding or at any indefinite distance; of old; heretofore.

FORMER

Form"er, 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.

For"mer, a. Etym: [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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

12 February 2025

MEGACOLON

(noun) an abnormal enlargement of the colon; can be congenital (as in Hirschsprung’s disease) or acquired (as when children refuse to defecate)


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Coffee Trivia

According to Guinness World Records, on 25 September 2016, the Birla Institute of Management Technology (India) in Uttar Pradesh, India, constructed the largest coffee cups pyramid consisting of 23,821 cups. They used paper takeaway coffee cups to build the pyramid.

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