Outdating

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The process of causing something to become obsolete entails making it less relevant or no longer applicable in a modern context
2. The process through which something loses its relevance relates to changing trends or advancements that replace older practices or items
3. The act of rendering something outdated involves making it no longer applicable or relevant due to advancements or shifts in trends

Etymology: "Outdating" is a straightforward formation: the verb "date" with the prefix "out-" and the suffix "-ing" marking the present participle or gerund. "Date" itself comes from Latin "data", the feminine past participle of "dare" ("to give"), via the phrase "data Romae" ("given at Rome"), which medieval letters and charters used to record where and when they were issued. English took "date" in the sense of a point in time in the 14th century, and the verb "to date" followed by the 1600s. The prefix "out-" has been productive in English since Old English, where it meant "beyond" or "external" as in "outgoing," and it gained the sense "surpass" or "exceed" as in "outrun" or "outlive." "To outdate" therefore means to make something surpass its date, leaving it behind in time. The verb is attested in the 19th century, and the participle "outdated" is more common in use than the gerund "outdating."

Synonyms: obsolete, antiquating, discrediting, deprecating

Antonyms: updating, renewing, modernizing, revitalizing