'afterdate' originates from the combination of 'after' and 'date', where 'after' meant 'later in time' and 'date' referred to a specific day or time.

'afterdate' changed from the Old English word 'æfter' and the Latin word 'data', eventually becoming the modern English word 'afterdate'.

Initially, it meant 'to assign a later date', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'dated later than the actual date'.