Also spelled pre-figure

US /priˈfɪgjɚ/ UK /priːˈfɪgə/
verb

Meanings

  1. 1
    verb

    to be an early indication or model of something that comes later

    The early sketches prefigure the artist's later masterpieces.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 verb · to be an early indication... foreshadowpresageportendheraldadumbrateforetokenanticipate
Word family
Derived forms prefigurationprefigurementprefigurative
Related forms figureconfiguredisfigure

Etymology

From Late Latin praefigurare ('to prefigure'), from prae- ('before') + figurare ('to form, shape'), from figura ('shape, figure').

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