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Prior vs Predate - What's the difference?

prior | predate |

As nouns the difference between prior and predate

is that prior is prior (high-ranking member of a monastery) while predate is a publication, such as a newspaper or magazine, that is issued with a printed date later than the date of issue.

As a verb predate is

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") or predate can be to prey upon something.

prior

English

Adjective

(-)
  • Of that which comes before, in advance.
  • I had no prior knowledge you were coming.
  • former, previous
  • His prior residence was smaller than his current one.

    Usage notes

    The etymological antonym is (m) (from Latin) (compare (m)/(m) for “first/last”). This is now no longer used, however, and there is no corresponding antonym. Typically either (m) or (m) are used, but these form different pairs – (m)/(m) and (m)/(m) – and are more formal than prior . When an opposing pair is needed, these can be used, or other pairs such as (m)/(m) or (m)/(m).

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * prior to

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (colloquial) Previously.
  • The doctor had known three months prior .

    Noun

    (wikipedia prior) (en noun)
  • A high-ranking member of a monastery, usually lower in rank than an abbot.
  • * 1939 , (Raymond Chandler), The Big Sleep , Penguin 2011, p. 53:
  • ‘And a little later we get the routine report on his prints from Washington, and he's got a prior back in Indiana, attempted hold-up six years ago.’
  • (statistics) In Bayesian inference, a prior probability distribution.
  • predate

    English

    Etymology 1

    From pre- 'before' + date

    Verb

  • 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".)
  • To exist, or to occur before something else; to antedate (the more correct term for this usage.)
  • The Japanese 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
    Antonyms
    * (to designate a date earlier): postdate

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A publication, such as a newspaper or magazine, that is issued with a printed date later than the date of issue.
  • Etymology 2

    From predation, predator

    Verb

  • To prey upon something.
  • Synonyms
    * (to prey upon): prey

    Anagrams

    * * * * English heteronyms ----