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nt; previous; prior; earlier; hence, ancient; long past. For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age. Job. viii. 8. The latter and former rain. Hosea vi. 3.

One of the half ribs against the walls in a ceiling vaulted with ribs.

In time past, either in time immediately preceding or at any indefinite distance; of old; heretofore.

A transformer in which part of the primary winding is used as a secondary winding, or vice versa; -- called also a compensator or balancing coil.

One who conforms; one who complies with established forms or doctrines.

One who deforms.

One who informs, animates, or inspires. [Obs.] Thomson. Nature, informer of the poet's art. Pope.

One who gives or incorrect information.

A transformer connected in parallel.

One who performs, accomplishes, or fulfills; as, a good promiser, but a bad performer; especially, one who shows skill and training in any art; as, a performer of the drama; a performer on the harp.

Any of several transformers (there must be at least two) for changing phase.

One who effects a reformation or amendment; one who labors for, or urges, reform; as, a reformer of manners, or of abuses.

A transformer without iron, for high frequency alternating or oscillating currents; an oscillation transformer.

One who, or that which, transforms. Specif. (Elec.), an apparatus for producing from a given electrical current another current of different voltage.

One of a class of bishops whose sees were formerly abbeys. Encyc. Brit. Abbot of the people. a title formerly given to one of the chief magistrates in Genoa. -- Abbot of Misrule (or Lord of Misrule), in mediæval times, the master of revels, as at Christmas; in Scotland called the Abbot of Unreason. Encyc. Brit.…

An evergreen shrub (Hibiscus -- formerly Abelmoschus- moschatus), of the East and West Indies and Northern Africa, whose musky seeds are used in perfumery and to flavor coffee; -- sometimes called musk mallow.

iry or diurnal aberration, when of the earth on its axis; amounting when greatest, in the former case, to 20.4'', and in the latter, to 0.3''. Planetary aberration is that due to the motion of light and the motion of the planet relative to the earth.

One of a set of vagabonds who formerly roamed through England, feigning lunacy for the sake of obtaining alms. Nares. To sham Abraham, to feign sickness. Goldsmith.

To deprive; to cut off; -- followed by of, and formerly by from; as, to abridge one of his rights.

A ceremony formerly used in conferring knighthood, consisting am embrace, and a slight blow on the shoulders with the flat blade of a sword.