If one thing predates another, it happened or existed earlier in history. A temple that predates a dynasty was already there before that dynasty began.

If one thing predates another如果某件事比另一件事更早發生 it happened or existed earlier in history也就是說它在歷史上發生或存在得比較早 A temple that predates a dynasty一座早於某個朝代的廟 before that dynasty began在那個朝代開始之前 was already there就已經存在了

Historians and scientists use this a lot for buildings, tools, laws, and even words: they are placing things on a timeline, not guessing the future. Though actually, people stretch it into ordinary life too — “My love of coffee predates college” just means the love was there first, not that it is ancient.

Historians and scientists歷史學家和科學家 use this a lot很常使用這個詞 for buildings, tools, laws, and even words用在建築、工具、法律，甚至是詞語上 they are placing things on a timeline他們是把事物放在時間軸上 not guessing the future而不是在猜測未來 Though actually不過其實 people stretch it into ordinary life too人們也把這個詞延伸用到日常生活裡 'My love of coffee predates college''My love of coffee predates college'（我對咖啡的喜愛早於上大學） just means the love was there first只是表示這份喜愛比較早出現 not that it is ancient不是說它有多古老

The word feels a little formal; in easy talk you often hear “came first” or “was around before.” One more messy truth: there is another English verb spelled the same way that means “to hunt and eat,” sitting with predator and prey. That is a different family.

The word feels a little formal這個詞聽起來有點正式 in easy talk you often hear "came first" or "was around before."口語裡常聽到的是「came first」或「was around before」 One more messy truth還有一個容易搞混的地方 there is另外有 another English verb spelled the same way一個拼法相同的英文動詞 that means "to hunt and eat,"意思是「獵食」 sitting with predator and prey跟 predator（掠食者）和 prey（獵物）是同一家族 That那 is a different family是不同的家族

This sense is the time one: before the date.

This sense這個意思 is the time one是時間上的那個意思 before the date也就是「在日期之前」