former /ˈfoɚmɚ/ adjective Learner's definition of FORMER
always used before a noun
1
—
used to say what someone or something was in the past前任的；以前的 2
: existing in the past从前的；旧时的 -
They hope to restore the old theater to its former glory. [=to make it as good as it was in the past]他们想重现老剧院昔日的辉煌。
-
She is now just a shadow of her former self. [=she is not the same person she once was]她已经今不如昔了。
the former
: the first one of two things or people that have been mentioned（两者中的）前者 -
Of these two options, the former is less expensive, while the latter is less risky.这两个选择中，前者花费低一些，而后者风险小一些。
-
If offered a choice between death and exile, he said that he would choose the former. [=he would choose death]如果在死亡和流亡中选择的话，他说他宁可选择前者。
— compare the latter at latter