| 释义 |
▪ I. predate, v.1|priːˈdeɪt|
[f. pre- A. 1 + date v.]
1. trans. To date before the actual time; to antedate.
1864in Webster. 1902Edin. Rev. Apr. 486 The tendency—found in all early as well as modern writings—to pre-date the origin of empire. 1906Westm. Gaz. 9 Jan. 9/3 Mr. Gorst predates the fall of Lord Randolph Churchill.
2. To precede in date, to date before (something).
1889N. & Q. 7th Ser. VII. 486/1 The Bonnington, or Law⁓day oak, is not a boundary tree, but it predates the times of the Tudors. 1974Observer (Colour Suppl.) 19 May 14/3 Houses that pre-date the introduction of noise controls and the airport itself. 1976Amer. N. & Q. XIV. 98/1 Both poems predate the letters in the authorized edition of The Letters of Junius published in 1772. 1978N. & Q. Dec. 532/2 Deeds of the Warren estates..provide instances in Lancashire which pre-date the above occurrence [of the name Diana] by at least three hundred years.
▪ II. predate, v.2|prɪˈdeɪt|
[Back-formation f. predation.]
a. intr. To seek prey.
b. trans. Of a predator: to prey on, eat.
1974Trout & Salmon Mar. 50/2 It is hoped that the stock of trout will predate sufficiently to minimise the problem [of coarse fish]. 1977Field 13 Jan. 47/1 Man is a predator... To predate in person, instead of by proxy, is not unnatural. 1977J. L. Harper Population Biol. of Plants vi. 172 Wood pigeons (Columba palumba) cease to predate when the density of a food falls to a level at which the birds can no longer search quickly enough to pick up a sufficient quantity. 1977New Scientist 27 Oct. 220/3 The eggs of many species of frogs are predated by many species of vertebrates and invertebrates. |