rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: -er
English

-er

a person or thing that does something

Forms

  • -er
  • -r — Used after some bases ending in e.

Origin

Old English -ere, generally traced through Germanic to Latin -arius.

Note

It can name a tool as readily as a person. The comparison ending in taller has a different history.

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adjective / determiner / pronoun

former

FOR-mer/ˈfɔːrmər/

Belonging to an earlier position in time or sequence.

The former chef hands the hat to the new chef and steps away.

An older retired chef hands a chef's hat to the new chef while stepping away in everyday clothes, former role clear.
Etymology
formOld Englishfirst
+erEnglisha person or thing that does something

An unusual comparative built on a word meaning “first,” former came to mean “earlier in time.” A former officeholder therefore belongs to an earlier period of holding that position.

In context

History Time27:54
the former Roman province of Dacia on the middle Danube frontier in modernday Romania.
476 AD - A Tour Of Post-Roman Europe // European History Documentary

More examples

  • The former factory now houses a public library.
  • Tea and coffee are available, but I prefer the former.
  • Of the two plans, the former option costs less.

Forms

formerly adverb — At an earlier time, but not now.

Similar words

previous
Often refers to the one immediately before the current one.
earlier
Refers broadly to a prior time, not necessarily past status.