What cougar will do before assignation (7)

I believe the answer is:

predate

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'what cougar will do' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun but the answer is not.

'before assignation' is the wordplay.
'before' becomes 'pre'.
'assignation' becomes 'date' (I've seen this in other clues).
'pre'+'date'='PREDATE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for predate that I've seen before include "Go before" , "Track down and feed off" , "Be earlier in time" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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