prefigure

(prē fig′yər, -yo̵or)

Origin: ME prefiguren < LL(Ec) praefigurare < L prae-, pre- + figurare, to fashion: see figure

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See prefigure in American Heritage Dictionary 4

transitive verb pre·fig·ured, pre·fig·ur·ing, pre·fig·ures

To suggest, indicate, or represent by an antecedent form or model; presage or foreshadow: The paintings of Paul Cézanne prefigured the rise of cubism in the early 20th century.
To imagine or picture to oneself in advance.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English prefiguren

Origin: , from Old French prefigurer

Origin: , from Late Latin praefigūrāre

Origin: : Latin prae-, pre-

Origin: + Latin figūrāre, to shape (from figūra, shape; see dheigh- in Indo-European roots)

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