date from/date back to
1．have existed since；go back to；trace back to 始于（某一历史时期）；源于；追溯到
Insurance dates from the 17th century．保险始于17世纪。
The castle dates back to the 14th century．这城堡建于14世纪。
The custom dates back to the time of the Roman Empire．这种风俗可以回溯到古罗马时期。
The traditional friendship between our two peoples dates back to ancient days．我们两国人民之间的传统友谊可以追溯到遥远的过去。
2．be addressed from a place（信）由某处寄出
The letter dates from New York．这封信是从纽约寄来的。