former

Previous.

A former president

the former East Germany

First of aforementioned two items. Used with the, often without a noun.

The former is a good idea but the latter is not.

We have two cars, a red one and a blue one. We won the former on a game show.

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

Dave was the former of the company.

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

The brick arch was built using a wooden former.

Someone in, or of, a certain form (class).

Fifth-former.

Sixth-former.