prefigure

verb

pre·fig·ure ˌprē-ˈfi-gyər How to pronounce prefigure (audio)

especially British -ˈfi-gə

prefigured; prefiguring; prefigures

transitive verb

: to show, suggest, or announce by an antecedent type, image, or likeness

: to picture or imagine beforehand

prefigurement

ˌprē-ˈfi-gyər-mənt How to pronounce prefigure (audio)

especially British -ˈfi-gə-

noun

Synonyms

adumbrate
forerun
foreshadow
harbinger
herald

See all Synonyms & Antonyms

Example Sentences

His style of painting prefigured the development of modern art. the first crocus traditionally prefigures the arrival of spring

Recent Examples on the Web The company’s latest financial results seem to prefigure this bleak prospect.

George Calhoun, Forbes, 1 June 2022 But even as the spare language of her lines endows them with a monumental feel, their brevity and levity also prefigure the semiotically fraught short exchanges of the texting era.

Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2021 The termites survive in duds, bombs, and forgotten one-offs like Dark City (1998), which combines elements that prefigure The Matrix with themes from Five Million Years to Earth.

Samuel Goldman, The Week, 16 Sep. 2021 The weakness of their victory is related to the second, more general reason to watch the SBC: Big church splits can prefigure big national splits.

Bonnie Kristian, The Week, 16 June 2021 These opening titles really seem to prefigure the Harry Potter movies.

Emma Specter, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2021 Visits by Kerry to Saudi Arabia and Mexico before Glasgow could prefigure new commitments from both those countries.

Washington Post, 15 Oct. 2021 Its remaining original construction — in the vernacular idiom, with touches that prefigure the Baroque, and an Orientalist flared red ceramic tile roof — dates to the late 1500s.

New York Times, 24 Sep. 2021 As in life, guns prefigure and alter things, often irreparably.

Jeffrey Ann Goudie, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Mar. 2021 See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin praefigurare, from Latin prae- pre- + figurare to shape, picture, from figura figure

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

单词	prefigure
释义	prefigure verb pre·fig·ure ˌprē-ˈfi-gyər especially British -ˈfi-gə prefigured; prefiguring; prefigures transitive verb 1 : to show, suggest, or announce by an antecedent type, image, or likeness 2 : to picture or imagine beforehand prefigurement ˌprē-ˈfi-gyər-mənt especially British -ˈfi-gə- noun Synonyms adumbrate forerun foreshadow harbinger herald See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences His style of painting prefigured the development of modern art. the first crocus traditionally prefigures the arrival of spring Recent Examples on the Web The company’s latest financial results seem to prefigure this bleak prospect. George Calhoun, Forbes, 1 June 2022 But even as the spare language of her lines endows them with a monumental feel, their brevity and levity also prefigure the semiotically fraught short exchanges of the texting era. Washington Post, 20 Nov. 2021 The termites survive in duds, bombs, and forgotten one-offs like Dark City (1998), which combines elements that prefigure The Matrix with themes from Five Million Years to Earth. Samuel Goldman, The Week, 16 Sep. 2021 The weakness of their victory is related to the second, more general reason to watch the SBC: Big church splits can prefigure big national splits. Bonnie Kristian, The Week, 16 June 2021 These opening titles really seem to prefigure the Harry Potter movies. Emma Specter, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2021 Visits by Kerry to Saudi Arabia and Mexico before Glasgow could prefigure new commitments from both those countries. Washington Post, 15 Oct. 2021 Its remaining original construction — in the vernacular idiom, with touches that prefigure the Baroque, and an Orientalist flared red ceramic tile roof — dates to the late 1500s. New York Times, 24 Sep. 2021 As in life, guns prefigure and alter things, often irreparably. Jeffrey Ann Goudie, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Mar. 2021 See More Word History Etymology Middle English, from Late Latin praefigurare, from Latin prae- pre- + figurare to shape, picture, from figura figure First Known Use 15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 prefigure verb as in to foreshadow to give a slight indication of beforehand the first crocus traditionally prefigures the arrival of spring Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance foreshadow herald predict imply anticipate adumbrate harbinger foresee forerun foretell suggest presage foreknow portend prophesy prognosticate bode connote forebode forecast allude forewarn promise hint augur intimate forbode insinuate
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