Predate <prey upon>

[Arnold Zwicky]

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.
 
arnold

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