predate

From pre- +‎ date

• pre-date

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɹiːˌdeɪt/, /ˌpɹiːˈdeɪt/

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predate (third-person singular simple present predates, present participle predating, simple past and past participle predated)

1. To designate a date earlier than the actual one; to move a date, appointment, event, or period of time to an earlier point (contrast "postdate".)
2. (transitive) To exist or to occur before something else; to antedate.

   The Chinese use of Pascal's Triangle predates its discovery by Blaise Pascal.

The transitive sense of moving an event to an earlier point is the proper one for "predate." "Antedate" is the correct term for occurring before something else. These terms are frequently misused even in educated writing.

• (to designate a date earlier): antedate, backdate, foredate
• (to occur before something else): antedate; see also Thesaurus:predate

• (to designate a date earlier): overdate, postdate
• (to occur before something else): postdate

predate (plural predates)

1. A publication, such as a newspaper or magazine, that is issued with a printed date later than the date of issue.

Back-formation from predation or predator.

• (General American) IPA^(key): /pɹəˈdeɪt/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /pɹɪˈdeɪt/

predate (third-person singular simple present predates, present participle predating, simple past and past participle predated)

1. To prey upon something.

• (to prey upon): prey

• predation
• depredation
• predator

• predate at OneLook Dictionary Search
• predate in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

• adepter, readept, red tape, retaped, tapered

predate

1. second-person plural present indicative of predare
2. second-person plural imperative of predare
3. feminine plural of predato