Precedate

Precedate is a verb meaning to come before; to precede in time or order. In modern English it is rare and generally considered archaic or specialized. The more common verb for this sense is precede, while predating is used to indicate temporal precedence of one event over another. Precedate may appear in historical or philological discussions about language. When used, it is typically treated as a regular verb and conforms to standard English inflection, though evidence of its contemporary usage is limited.

Etymology and form: The term derives from Latin praecedere “to go before,” with the English form arising through earlier stages of the language. Its appearance via the -ate suffix mirrors other English verbs, but this does not imply ongoing productivity in everyday speech. In those rare instances where precedate is cited, it is usually discussed as a historical or literary artifact rather than a living synonym for precede.

Usage notes: Because precedate is uncommon, it is not widely listed in modern dictionaries and is often marked as obsolete, archaic, or dialectal. Its presence in texts is typically cited as evidence of historical usage rather than as a recommended choice in current writing. For clear contemporary expression, authors usually prefer precede to indicate general sequencing, or predates to indicate temporal precedence, with careful attention to tense and aspect.

See also: precede; predates; predating; predecessor; precedence.