Antedate

To antedate something means to establish an earlier date for it than its actual date of occurrence or creation. This term is often used in legal or historical contexts to refer to documents or events that have been backdated to appear as if they occurred at an earlier time. Antedating can carry legal implications, especially in cases of fraud or misrepresentation.

Antedate meaning with examples

• The historian discovered that the original manuscript had been antedated by the archivist, creating confusion about the actual timeline of events in the region. This revelation pushed the scholars to reevaluate their interpretations and understandings of the historical narrative, leading to a more accurate representation of the past.
• In an attempt to secure funding, the researcher mistakenly antedated their experiment results in the grant application. After the review process uncovered this discrepancy, it resulted in the denial of the grant due to concerns about credibility and integrity within their research proposal, leading to a loss of potential support.
• During the litigation process, the defense attorney claimed that the contract was antedated to suggest that an agreement had been reached prior to the official negotiations. This contention became central to the case, as the prosecution argued that such manipulation of dates could constitute fraud and breach of contract.
• While reviewing the old registry of the town, the committee found several entries that had been antedated by previous officials. This practice was not only misleading but also raised questions about accountability, prompting the committee to draft new policies to prevent such occurrences in the future.