former /ˈfɔ:mə/ I. adj. 过去的，从前的：attack one’s former friends 攻击过去的朋友；my former experience 我从前的经验；the former capital of Brazil 巴西过去的首都；in former days 在过去的日子里 ‖II. n. 前者(带定冠词)：I prefer the former alternative to the latter. 我宁愿挑前者而不要后者。Jack and Henry came in together; the former had no coat. 杰克和亨利一起进来了，前者没穿大衣。
formerly adv. 以前，过去，原来：［考句］The girl was formerly a shop assistant; she is now a manager in a large department store. 这个姑娘原来是个商店售货员，但她现在是一家大型百货公司的经理。
