antedate

/ˈæntiˌdeɪt/

Group 16Difficulty 3/3

Definition

(verb)
To precede in time; to come before
GRE

Example in Context

Archaeological evidence suggests that the settlement antedates the commonly accepted founding of the civilization by several centuries.

Synonyms

predateprecedecome before

Etymology

Literally means 'given before', indicating something that precedes.

  • ante- (Latin) — before
  • datum (Latin) — given

Memory Aid

👩‍🦳Sounds like “auntie-date

Imagine your AUNTIE showing up to a dinner DATE that happened LAST WEEK — she always ANTEDATES the fun!

Visual Association

An hourglass with sand flowing backward, indicating time moving in reverse.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “antedate” mean on the GRE?

antedate (verb) means “To precede in time; to come before”. Archaeological evidence suggests that the settlement antedates the commonly accepted founding of the civilization by several centuries.

How to remember “antedate” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “antedate” sounds like “auntie-date”. Imagine your AUNTIE showing up to a dinner DATE that happened LAST WEEK — she always ANTEDATES the fun!

What are synonyms for “antedate”?

Common synonyms: predate, precede, come before.