What is the meaning of former?

noun

• The first of two or the first mentioned of two.
  • usage: "Tom and Dick were both heroes but only the former is remembered today"

adjective

• Referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several. )
  • usage: "the novel was made into a film in 1943 and again in 1967; I prefer the former version to the latter one"
• Belonging to some prior time.
  • usage: "erstwhile friend"; "our former glory"; "the once capital of the state"; "her quondam lover"
  • synonyms: erstwhile, old, onetime, one-time, quondam, sometime
• Used especially of persons. ( of the immediate past)
  • usage: "the former president"; "our late President is still very active"; "the previous occupant of the White House"
  • synonyms: late, previous
• Belonging to the distant past.
  • usage: "the early inhabitants of Europe"; "former generations"; "in other times"
  • synonyms: early, other