Predate <prey upon>

[Laurence Horn]

On Jul 3, 2014, at 9:45 AM, Arnold Zwicky wrote:

> On Jul 3, 2014, at 5:11 AM, W Brewer <brewerwa at GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
>> WB:  In describing the predators of the <Razorbill>, Wikip says:  << Arctic
>> foxes can also **predate** significant numbers of adults, eggs, and chicks
>> in some years.>>
>>    That just don't sound right.
> 
> it sounds just fine; but maybe it doesn't *look* right to you.  but surely ADSL-ers can cope with homographs.
> 
> from NOAD2:
> 
> predate 1 |prēˈdāt|  verb [with obj.]   exist or occur at a date earlier than (something): this letter predates her illness.
> predate 2 |priˈdāt|  verb [with obj.]   (of an animal) act as a predator of; catch and eat (prey). ORIGIN 1940s: back-formation from predation.
> 
Not to mention predate 3 ['pri'dāt| verb [with obj. or abs.]  to meet for coffee, etc., as part of a screening process before having an official date (with)

LH

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