antedate
UK: ˌæntiˈdeɪt | US: ˌæntiˈdeɪt
vt. to occur or exist before something else
vt. to assign a date earlier than the actual one (e.g., on a document)
The word "antedate" combines the Latin prefix "ante-" (meaning "before") with the root "date" (derived from Latin "datus," meaning "given" or "assigned time"). Historically, "ante-" appears in many English words to indicate precedence (e.g., "antecedent," "antebellum"). The verb "date" evolved from marking time to assigning chronological order. Thus, "antedate" logically means "to precede in time" or "to assign an earlier time."
The discovery of these artifacts antedates the earliest recorded history of the region.
She antedated the contract to avoid penalties.
Some fossils antedate the dinosaur era by millions of years.
The tradition may antedate written records.
He was accused of antedating the check to manipulate the transaction.