former

音标发音

adj性质的同根词
formative：形成的；造型的；格式化的。
formalized：形式化的；正式的。
formless：没有形状的；无定形的；形体不明的。
adv性质的同根词
formally：正式地；形式上。
formerly：以前；原来。
n性质的同根词
form：形式，形状；形态，外形；方式；表格。
formative：构词要素。
formalism：形式主义；形式体系。
formalization：形式化；礼仪化。
v性质的同根词
formalized：使正式；使有效（formalize的过去分词）；使定形；拘泥于形式。
vi性质的同根词
form：形成，构成；排列。
formalize：拘泥于形式。
vt性质的同根词
form：构成，组成；排列，组织；产生，塑造。
formalize：使形式化；使正式；拘泥礼仪。

the former表示“前者”，the latter表示“后者”，两者相对，只可用于两个人或物之间；
former Mayor表示“前任市长”，而former Ambassador表示“前任大使”，这种former的用法多见于美国，英国人习惯用ex-来表示“前任的”。

Former is used to describe someone who used to have a particular job, position, or role, but no longer has it.
Former is used to refer to countries which no longer exist or whose boundaries have changed.
Former is used to describe something which used to belong to someone or which used to be a particular thing.
When two people, things, or groups have just been mentioned, you can refer to the first of them as the former.
a person or thing that forms or shapes