former

英['f??m?] 美['f?rm?]

former 先前的

來自古英語forma的比較級，來自PIE*pre-mo, 最早的，*pre-, 在先，詞源同far, *mo, 最高級后綴，詞源同intimate, ultimate. 該詞實際上是最高級的比較級。比較foremost.

former: former: [12] Former is a comparative form based on Middle English forme ‘first (in time or order)’, on the analogy of the superlative foremost [16] (which was originally formost [12]; the modern spelling came about through association with fore and most). Forme itself goes back to Old English forma, which was a descendant of a prehistoric Germanic superlative from derived from *fora ‘before’ (whence also English first, for, and fore). So untangling the suffixal accretions of centuries, former means etymologically ‘more most before’.
=> first, for, fore, primary
former (adj.): "earlier in time," mid-12c., comparative of forme "first, earliest in time or order," from Old English forma "first," from Proto-Germanic *fruma-, *furma-, from PIE *pre-mo-, suffixed (superlative) form of root *per- (1) "forward, through; before; first" (see per). Probably patterned on formest (see foremost); it is an unusual case of a comparative formed from a superlative (the Old English -m is a superlative suffix). As "first of two," 1580s.
former (n.): "one who gives form," mid-14c., agent noun from form (v.). The Latin agent noun was formator.

1. The unemployed executives include former sales managers, directors and accountants.: 被解雇的管理人員包括前銷售經理、主管和會計。

2. A former associate of Mr. Pierce's was among the project's boosters.: 皮爾斯先生的一個前合伙人是這個計劃的熱心支持者之一。

4. The airline plans to auction its international routes to former competitors.: 這家航空公司打算把他們的國際線路拍賣給以前的競爭對手。

5. One former director embezzled $34 million in company funds.: 一名前主管挪用了3,400萬美元的公司資金。