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Former vs Mature - What's the difference?

former | mature | Related terms |

As adjectives the difference between former and mature

is that former is previous while mature is fully developed; grown up in terms of physical appearance, behaviour or thinking; ripe.

As a noun former

is someone who forms something; a maker; a creator or founder.

As a verb mature is

to become mature; to ripen.

former

English

Alternative forms

* (l)

Etymology 1

From (etyl) former, comparative of . Parallel to (m) (via Latin), as comparative form from same Proto-Indo-European root. Related to (m) and (m) (thence (m)), from Proto-Germanic.

Adjective

(-)
  • 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.
  • (senseid) First of aforementioned two items. Used with the , often without a noun.
  • :
  • Synonyms
    * (previous) anterior, erstwhile, previous, prior, quondam, ex- * See also
    Antonyms
    * latter

    Etymology 2

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • 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 .
  • (chiefly, British, used in combinations) Someone in, or of, a certain form (class).
  • ''Fifth-former
    Sixth-former .
    Derived terms
    * pan former

    Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * reform ----

    mature

    English

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • Fully developed; grown up in terms of physical appearance, behaviour or thinking; ripe.
  • She is quite mature for her age.
  • Profound; careful.
  • The headmaster decided to expel the boy after a mature consideration.
  • (obsolete) Come to, or in a state of, completed suppuration.
  • Antonyms

    * (grown up) childish, immature * (profound) superficial

    Verb

  • To become mature; to ripen.
  • To gain experience or wisdom with age.
  • (finance) To reach the date when payment is due
  • Derived terms

    * mature up