antedate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to exist or occur earlier than something else

   Cantor's discovery antedated Russell's work by eighteen years.

2. 2
   verb

   to put an earlier date on a document or event than its actual date

   The forged letter was antedated to make it appear contemporary with the treaty.

Formed from Latin ante ("before") + date. The verb first referred to assigning an earlier date and then broadened to mean existing or occurring before another thing.

Topics