'pre-date' originates from Latin and Old English elements: the prefix 'pre-' ultimately from Latin 'prae' meaning 'before', combined with English 'date' (from Latin 'datum'), where 'prae' meant 'before' and 'datum' meant 'something given' (later a calendar day).

'pre-date' developed in English by combining the prefix 'pre-' (from Latin 'prae') with the noun 'date' (via Old French and Middle English from Latin 'datum'), forming the compound 'pre-date' in modern English.

Initially related to assigning or giving a date ('datum' = 'given'), the compound came to mean specifically 'to give an earlier date' and also extended to the sense 'to occur before' in time.