If offered a choice between death and exile, he said that he would choose 'the former'. [=he would choose death]
They hope to restore the old theater to its 'former' glory. [=to make it as good as it was in the past]
She is now just a shadow of her 'former' self. [=she is not the same person she once was]
(..) But we still have time. Time enough to counter Sauron if we act quickIy. Time? What time do you think we have? Sauron has regained much of his former strength. He cannot yet take physical form... ...but his spirit has lost none of its potency. His gaze pierces cloud,shadow,earth and flesh. (..)2001 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring