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antedate

Verb
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

To date something earlier than it really is, or to treat it as if it happened before it did.

Detailed Definition
In older or formal English, to antedate means to assign an earlier date to something. Donne uses it figuratively for a promise made before the time it should count, suggesting a vow that is being made too soon or too conveniently.
Example
Example in poetry:
“Wilt thou then antedate some new-made vow?” asks Shakespeare in Sonnet 115; To antedate is to assign an earlier date to something; Lovers antedate their promise, claiming it began before speech; The archive cannot antedate the wound it failed to name
Additional Notes
The verb “Antedate” in the line is a less common, formal word that many readers may need to look up.; Found in the poem, Woman's Constancy by John Donne
Also Known As
Precede Foredate Anticipate Precede
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