antedate

[ verb an-ti-deyt, an-ti-deyt; noun an-ti-deyt ]

verb (used with object)

, an·te·dat·ed, an·te·dat·ing.

1. to be of older date than; precede in time:

   The Peruvian empire antedates the Mexican empire.

2. predate ( def 1 ).
3. to assign to an earlier date:

   to antedate a historical event.

4. to cause to return to an earlier time:

   to antedate one's thoughts by remembering past events.

5. to cause to happen sooner; accelerate:

   The cold weather antedated their departure from the country.

6. Archaic. to take or have in advance; anticipate.

noun

1. a prior date.

antedate

verb

1. to be or occur at an earlier date than
2. to affix a date to (a document, etc) that is earlier than the actual date
3. to assign a date to (an event, etc) that is earlier than its previously assigned date
4. to cause to occur sooner

noun

1. an earlier date

Word History and Origins

Origin of antedate¹

1570–80; earlier antidate < Middle French antidater, derivative of antidate a date earlier than the true date (by association with anté- ante- ), originally a date put in place of another date; ante-, date ¹

Example Sentences

A foreign patent in order to invalidate an American patent must antedate the invention patented.

From Project Gutenberg

However, most of the older residences in Fredericksburg antedate the fire, and are of an earlier Colonial period.

From Project Gutenberg

They antedate questions, and thus in all cases aggravate the difficulty of answering them satisfactorily.

From Project Gutenberg

So powerful is this instinctive faith that men of simple modes of character are prone to antedate its consummation.

From Project Gutenberg

No hostile hand can antedate my doom, Till fate condemns me to the silent tomb.

From Project Gutenberg