antedate

[v. an-ti-deyt, an-ti-deyt; n. an-ti-deyt] /v. ˈæn tɪˌdeɪt, ˌæn tɪˈdeɪt; n. ˈæn tɪˌdeɪt/
verb (used with object), antedated, antedating.
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
7.
a prior date.
Origin
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; see ante-, date1
Can be confused
anecdote, antedate, antidote.
antedate, predate, postdate.
Examples from the web for antedate
  • The explanation is quite simple: self-consciousness does not antedate birth, nor does it develop in a vacuum.
British Dictionary definitions for antedate

antedate

verb (transitive) (ˈæntɪˌdeɪt; ˌæntɪˈdeɪt)
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 (ˈæntɪˌdeɪt)
5.
an earlier date
Word Origin and History for antedate
v.

1580s, earlier as noun meaning "a backdating, false early date attached to a document or event" (1570s); from Latin ante "before" (see ante) + date (v.1). Related: Antedated; antedating.