former

former

詞意辨析：

previous, foregoing, preceding, prior, former

這些形容詞均可表示“在前的”之意。
previous: 指時間上、順序上較早的，或指正在談論的某事的前一個。
foregoing: 指前所述的，是following的反義詞。
preceding: 特指時間和地位上緊接在前。
prior: 與previous同義，常可換用，但prior有時強調更大的重要性，對比意味強。
former: 系latter的反義詞，比prior更著重對比。英文字典

英文解釋：

名詞 former:

1. the first of two or the first mentioned of two

形容詞 former:

1. referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
2. belonging to some prior time
   同義詞：erstwhile, old, onetime, quondam, sometime
3. (used especially of persons) of the immediate past
   同義詞：late, previous
4. belonging to the distant past
   同義詞：early, other

英文造句：

1. It was more in sorrow than in anger that he criticized his former colleague.
   他批評以前的同事，並非出於氣憤而是為他惋惜。
2. Jane and Mary are good friends; the former is a teacher, the latter is a nurse.
   珍和瑪麗是好朋友，前者是老師，後者是護士。
3. He is too proud now to be seen with his former friends.
   他現在忘乎所以了，覺得跟以前的朋友在一起有失他的臉面。
4. Of these two men, the former is dead but the latter is still alive.
   這兩個人中，前者已死，而後者仍然活著。
5. The poor girl found it hard to throw off her former boy friend.
   這可憐的女孩發覺要擺脫掉她以前的男朋友很不容易。
6. Of these alternatives, I prefer the former.
   在這兩者之間我願選擇前者。
7. Mr. Heath is the former Prime Minister of Britain.
   希思先生是英國前任首相。