prefigure
UK: priːˈfɪɡə | US: priːˈfɪɡjər
vt. to represent or suggest something in advance; to foreshadow
vt. to imagine or picture beforehand
prefigure = pre<before> + figure<shape/form>
- pre<before>: From Latin prae-, meaning "before" (temporal or spatial).
- figure<shape/form>: From Latin figura, meaning "shape, form, or representation."
Etymology Origin:
The word prefigure combines pre- (before) and figure (to shape or represent), reflecting the idea of "shaping or representing something in advance." It entered English via Old French prefigurer and Latin praefigurare, originally used in religious contexts to describe prophetic symbolism (e.g., events in the Old Testament foreshadowing the New Testament). Over time, it broadened to secular usage, retaining its core meaning of anticipation or foreshadowing.
The artist's early sketches prefigure her later masterpieces.
His speech seemed to prefigure the economic crisis that followed.
Ancient myths often prefigure modern scientific discoveries.
The novel’s opening scene prefigures its tragic ending.
These symbols prefigure the themes explored in the final chapter.