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.
雙語(yǔ)例句
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(jīng)理、主管和會(huì)計(jì)。
來(lái)自柯林斯例句
2. A former associate of Mr. Pierce's was among the project's boosters.
皮爾斯先生的一個(gè)前合伙人是這個(gè)計(jì)劃的熱心支持者之一。
來(lái)自柯林斯例句
3. The former owner had not left any forwarding address.
以前的房主沒有留下任何轉(zhuǎn)遞地址。
來(lái)自柯林斯例句
4. The airline plans to auction its international routes to former competitors.