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.