different between used vs former

English

Etymology

From Middle English used, equivalent to use +? -ed.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ju?zd/
• (past of use): enPR: yo?ozd, IPA^(key): /ju?zd/
• (auxiliary verb): IPA^(key): /ju?zd/, /ju?st/
• Rhymes: -u?st

Verb

used

1. simple past tense and past participle of use
   • 1948, Carey McWilliams, North from Mexico / The Spanish-Speaking People of The United States, J. B. Lippincott Company, page 75

     In 1866 Colonel J. F. Meline noted that the rebozo had almost disappeared in Santa Fe and that hoop skirts, on sale in the stores, were being widely used.

   You used me!

2. (intransitive, as an auxiliary verb, now only in past tense) to perform habitually; to be accustomed [to doing something]

   He used to live here, but moved away last year.

Adjective

used (comparative more used, superlative most used)

1. That is or has or have been used.

2. That has or have previously been owned by someone else.

3. Familiar through use; usual; accustomed.
   • 1965, Bob Dylan, "Like a Rolling Stone"

     Nobody's ever taught you how to live out on the street and now you're gonna have to get used to it.

Synonyms

• (having been used):
• (previously owned by someone else): pre-owned, second-hand

Antonyms

• (having been used): unused
• (previously owned by someone else): new

Hyponyms

Derived terms

• usedness

Translations

See also

• used to

Anagrams

• Dues, desu, dues, duse, sued

English

Alternative forms

• fmr / fmr.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?f??m?/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?f??m?/
• Rhymes: -??(?)m?(?)

Etymology 1

From Middle English former, comparative of forme (“first”), from Old English forma (“first”), descended from Proto-Germanic *frumô. Parallel to prior (via Latin), as comparative form from same Proto-Indo-European root. Related to first and fore (thence before), from Proto-Germanic.

Adjective

former (comparative form only)

1. Previous.

   • At half-past nine on this Saturday evening, the parlour of the Salutation Inn, High Holborn, contained most of its customary visitors. […] In former days every tavern of repute kept such a room for its own select circle, a club, or society, of habitués, who met every evening, for a pipe and a cheerful glass.
3. First of aforementioned two items. Used with the, often without a noun.

Synonyms

• (previous): erstwhile, sometime, whilom, wont-to-be; see also Thesaurus:former

Antonyms

• (previous): next; see also Thesaurus:subsequent
• (first of aforementioned two items): latter

Translations

Etymology 2

form +? -er

Noun

former (plural formers)

1. Someone who forms something; a maker; a creator or founder.

   Dave was the former of the company.

2. An object used to form something, such as a template, gauge, or cutting die.

   The brick arch was built using a wooden former.

3. (chiefly Britain, used in combinations) Someone in, or of, a certain form (class).

   Fifth-former.

   Sixth-former.

Derived terms

• pan former

Anagrams

• Reform, re-form, reform

Danish

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [?f??m?]

Noun

former c

1. indefinite plural of form

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [?f??m?]

Verb

former

1. present of forme

Etymology 3

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [f??me???]

Verb

former or formér

1. imperative of formere

French

Etymology

From Old French, borrowed from Latin f?rm? (“to form”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /f??.me/

Verb

former

1. to form (generic sense)
2. to shape (to make into a certain shape)
3. to train; to educate

Conjugation

Related terms

• formation
• forme

Further reading

• “former” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Latin

Verb

f?rmer

1. first-person singular present passive subjunctive of f?rm?

Norwegian Bokmål

Noun

former m or f

1. indefinite plural of form

Verb

former

1. present of forme

Norwegian Nynorsk

Noun

former f

1. indefinite plural of form

Swedish

Noun

former

1. indefinite plural of form

Anagrams

• reform