The idiom "dates from" means that something originated or started at a particular time or period in the past. It is often used to indicate the age or history of something, such as a tradition, a building, a word, or a concept.

In short:

• "Dates from" means that something began or existed since a certain time in the past.

What Does "Dates From" Mean?

The idiom "dates from" is a common way of expressing the origin or antiquity of something. It is usually followed by a noun phrase that specifies the time or period when something started or came into being.

For example:

"This painting dates from the 17th century."

Some related expressions that have a similar meaning are:

• Dates back to
• Originates from
• Stems from
• Comes from

Where Does "Dates From" Come From?

The idiom "dates from" is based on the verb "date," which means to assign or record a date to something, especially a historical event. It comes from the Latin word "data," which means "given," and is related to the word "datum," which means "a piece of information." Furthermore, the phrase "dates from," indicating "to have existed since a certain time," began in the early 15th century.

10 Examples of "Dates From" in Sentences

Here are some examples of how to use this idiom in different sentences:

• Chow time! The recipe for this cake dates from my grandmother's time.
• No mean feat. The friendship between them dates from their childhood.
• Real talk: The law prohibiting smoking in public places dates from 2007.
• The painting dates from his early period and shows the influence of Picasso.
• The tradition of lighting candles on Christmas Eve dates from the Middle Ages.
• No diggity. The word "robot" dates from 1920 and was coined by a Czech writer.
• Holy cow. The castle dates from the 12th century and is one of the oldest in Europe.
• Yaas! The theory of evolution dates from the publication of Charles Darwin's book in 1859.
• Just the facts, Ma'am. The custom of sending Valentine's cards dates from the 19th century.
• The dispute between the two countries dates from a border conflict in 1962. Surf the net and see.

Examples of "Dates From" in Pop Culture

Here are some examples of how this idiom has been used in various forms of popular culture:

• In the book The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, the protagonist Robert Langdon says: "This chapel was constructed in 1446. It dates from well before Leonardo's time."
• The expression "May the force be with you" "dates from" the 1970s, when Obi-Wan Kenobi first uttered it in the movie Star Wars, which introduced a galaxy-wide saga of good versus evil.
• The term "selfie" "dates from" the 2010s, when it was coined by an Australian man who took a picture of himself after a drunken fall and posted it online with the caption, "Sorry about the focus, it was a selfie."

Other Ways to Say "Dates From"

Here are some synonyms for the idiom "dates from":

• Started in
• Began in
• Originated in
• Emerged in
• Was born in
• Was created in
• Was established in
• Was founded in
• Was introduced in
• Was invented in

10 Frequently Asked Questions About "Dates From"

Here are some common questions that people may have about the idiom:

• What does "dates from" mean?

The idiom "dates from" means that something originated or started at a particular time or period in the past. It is often used to indicate the age or history of something, such as a tradition, a building, a word, or a concept.

• What is the origin of the phrase "dates from"?

It comes from the Latin word "data," which means "given," and is related to the word "datum," which means "a piece of information." Furthermore, the phrase "dates from," indicating "to have existed since a certain time," began in the early 15th century.

• What are some synonyms for "dates from"?

Some synonyms for "dates from" are "dates back to," "originates from," "stems from," "comes from," "started in," "began in," "emerged in," etc.

• What is the difference between "dates from" and "dates to"?
  

"Dates from" means that something started or existed since a specific time in the past, while "dates to" implies that something ended or stopped at a particular time.

• Is "dates from" formal or informal?

"Dates from" is a neutral expression that can be used in formal and informal contexts. However, depending on the situation and the audience, you may want to choose a more specific or descriptive word instead of "dates from."

• How do you pronounce "dates from"?

To pronounce "dates from," you need to say the word "dates" with a long "a" sound, as in "bait," and the word "from" with a short "o" sound, as in "mom" The stress is on the first syllable of "dates" The pronunciation of "dates from" is /deɪts frɒm/ in British English and /deɪts frʌm/ in American English.

• What part of speech is "dates from"?

"Dates from" is a verb phrase that consists of the verb "date" and the preposition "from." The verb "date" can be used in different tenses, such as present, past, or future, depending on the context. The preposition "from" indicates the starting point or source of something.

• How do you write "dates from" in other languages?

Spanish: data de
French: date de
German: stammt aus
Italian: risale a

• What are some antonyms for "dates from"?

Some antonyms for "dates from" are "ends in," "expires in," "ceases in," "terminates in," and "concludes in."

• How do you use "dates from" in a question?

To use "dates from" in a question, you need to follow the same structure as a statement, but add a question mark at the end and change the word order or intonation depending on the type of question.

Final Thoughts About "Dates From"

The idiom "dates from" is a helpful way of expressing the origin or age of something. It can help us learn about the history and culture of different things, such as traditions, buildings, words, or concepts.

Some key points to remember about the idiom:

• It means that something started or existed since a specific time or period.
• It is usually followed by a noun phrase specifying the origin's time or period.
• It has some related expressions that have a similar meaning.
• It can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
• It has some synonyms that can be used interchangeably.
• It has some antonyms that indicate the opposite meaning.