The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word PREDATE
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
P
R
E
D
A
T
E
More clues leading to the result PREDATE
- Track down and feed off commie in Intelligence
- Come before king during sports meeting
- Come before search for quarry
- Come originally to hunt
- Happen before red tape changed or tapered off
- You need to be earlier for hunt
- ...to come before God finally, disheartened churchman admitted
- To arise earlier, clergyman has heart transplant
- Hunt ruby for one wearing crown
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Come originally/hunt" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case come originally/hunt = predate.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 PREDATE mean?
PREDATE noun- A publication, such as a newspaper or magazine, that is issued with a printed date later than the date of issue.
- 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".)
- To exist or to occur before something else; to antedate.
- To prey upon something.