predate

See also: pre-date

English

Etymology 1

From pre- +‎ date

Alternative forms

• pre-date

Pronunciation

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

• Audio (US):

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• Audio (UK):

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Verb

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.

Usage notes

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.

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

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

Translations

move a date, event

• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Spanish: adelantar (es)

exist before

• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Spanish: anteceder (es), preceder (es)

Noun

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.

Etymology 2

Back-formation from predation or predator.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pɹəˈdeɪt/
• IPA^(key): /pɹɪˈdeɪt/

Verb

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

1. To prey upon something.

Synonyms

• (to prey upon): prey

Related terms

• predation
• depredation
• predator

Translations

prey

• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Spanish: predar, depredar (es)

References

• “predate”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• “predate”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.

Anagrams

• adepter, pad-tree, readept, red tape, retaped, tapered

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Italian

Verb

predate

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