precede

(verb) be earlier in time; go back further. Synonyms: predate, forego, forgo, antecede, antedate. Example: "Stone tools precede bronze tools."

(verb) come before. Synonyms: predate. Example: "Most english adjectives precede the noun they modify."

(verb) be the predecessor of. Synonyms: come before. Example: "Bill preceded john in the long line of susan's husbands."

(verb) move ahead (of others) in time or space. Synonyms: lead.

(verb) furnish with a preface or introduction. Synonyms: preface, premise, introduce. Examples: "She always precedes her lectures with a joke." "He prefaced his lecture with a critical remark about the institution."