latter vs former vs ladder

latter

Definitions

adjective

  1. referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)

noun

  1. the second of two or the second mentioned of two

Examples

The ether gradually absorbs oxygen from the atmosphere, being converted into acetic acid; this, by its superior affinities, reacts on the iodide present, converting it into acetate, with liberation of hydriodic acid; while this latter, under the influence of the atmospheric oxygen, is very rapidly converted into water and iodine.

Then I saw how the ladies came alive at his gentlemanly attentions, how flattered they were by them.

Metformin and sulfonylurea drugs -- the latter a class of diabetes drugs including glyburide, glipizide, chlorpropamide, tolbutamide and tolazamide -- are often among the first medications prescribed to lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

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former

Definitions

adjective

  1. belonging to some prior time
  2. referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
  3. (used especially of persons) of the immediate past
  4. belonging to the distant past

noun

  1. the first of two or the first mentioned of two

Examples

Their dried dung is found everywhere, and is in many places the only fuel afforded by the plains; their skulls, which last longer than any other part of the animal, are among the most familiar of objects to the plainsman; their bones are in many districts so plentiful that it has become a regular industry, followed by hundreds of men (christened "bone hunters" by the frontiersmen), to go out with wagons and collect them in great numbers for the sake of the phosphates they yield; and Bad Lands, plateaus, and prairies alike, are cut up in all directions by the deep ruts which were formerly buffalo trails.

Band leader, Ray Blue, is also a composer, arranger and performer on tenor, alto and soprano saxophones.

McCarthy remains dismissive of the allegations and defensive of the former sergeant, saying he was "brutalized" by his colleagues, in particular, by a few senior officers "exerting locker room peer pressure" in the department ranks.

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ladder

Definitions

noun

  1. steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
  2. a row of unravelled stitches
  3. ascending stages by which somebody or something can progress

verb

  1. come unraveled or undone as if by snagging

Examples

The ceiling he had just plastered fell in and knocked him off his ladder.

I was filming a music video in Central Kingston in the middle of general elections, when gunmen shot up a group of people on the corner playing ludo (snakes and ladders) and dominoes.

Jane's language skills enabled her to forge ahead on the career ladder.

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