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former
form·er1 / ˈfôrmər/ • adj. 1. having previously filled a particular role or been a particular thing: her former boyfriend. ∎ of or occurring in the past or an earlier period: in former times. 2. (the former) denoting the first or first mentioned of two people or things: those who take the former view | [as n.] the powers of the former are more comprehensive than those of the latter. form·er2 • n. 1. a person or thing that forms something: [in comb.] an opinion-former. ∎ a transverse strengthening part in an aircraft wing or fuselage. 2. [in comb.] chiefly Brit. a person in a particular school year: fifth-formers. |
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"former." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "former." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-former.html "former." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-former.html |
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former
former, a cylindrical piece of wood used for making the cartridges with which a naval gun was loaded in the days of sailing navies. It was slightly less than the diameter of the bore of the gun for which cartridges were to be made, and paper or linen was wrapped round it as a container for the gunpowder required to fire the ball. It was of a size to take exactly the amount of powder required for the charge.
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"former." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "former." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-former.html "former." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-former.html |
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former
former earlier in time XII; †first, primeval XIII; †more forward XIV; first of two XVI. f. ME. forme (OE. forma; see FOREMOST) + -ER3.
Hence formerly †just now; †beforehand; in former days XVI. |
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T. F. HOAD. "former." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "former." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-former.html T. F. HOAD. "former." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-former.html |
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former
former
•dormer, former, korma, Norma, performer, pro-forma, stormer, transformer, trauma, warmer
•sixth-former • barnstormer
•aroma, carcinoma, chroma, coma, comber, diploma, glaucoma, Homer, lymphoma, melanoma, misnomer, Oklahoma, Omagh, roamer, Roma, romer, sarcoma, soma
•beachcomber
•bloomer, boomer, consumer, Duma, humour (US humor), Nkrumah, perfumer, puma, roomer, rumour (US rumor), satsuma, stumer, Sumer, tumour (US tumor)
•zeugma • fulmar
•bummer, comer, drummer, hummer, midsummer, mummer, plumber, rummer, strummer, summa, summer
•latecomer • newcomer • agama
•welcomer
•astronomer, monomer
•ashrama • isomer • gossamer
•customer
•affirmer, Burma, derma, Irma, murmur, squirmer, terra firma, wormer
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"former." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 31 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "former." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 31, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-former.html "former." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 31, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-former.html |
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