precede

be earlier in time; go back further; "Stone tools precede bronze tools"

come before; "Most English adjectives precede the noun they modify"

be the predecessor of; "Bill preceded John in the long line of Susan's husbands"

move ahead (of others) in time or space

furnish with a preface or introduction; "She always precedes her lectures with a joke"; "He prefaced his lecture with a critical remark about the institution"