Cryptic crossword clue
Came earlier, so ate 8

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word PREDATED

P
R
E
D
A
T
E
D

Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Came earlier/ate" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case came earlier/ate = predated.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does PREDATED mean?

PREDATED verb
  1. To designate a date earlier than the actual one; to move a date, appointment, event, or period of time to an earlier point (contrast "postdate".)
  2. To exist or to occur before something else; to antedate.
PREDATED verb
  1. To prey upon something.

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