prefigure Definition
- 1to be a sign of something that will happen in the future
- 2to represent or suggest something before it happens or exists
Using prefigure: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "prefigure" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The economic downturn prefigures a recession.
Example
The painting prefigures his later style.
Example
The early signs of the disease prefigure a serious illness.
Example
The novel prefigures the author's later works.
prefigure Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for prefigure
Antonyms for prefigure
Phrases with prefigure
to represent or suggest something to someone before it happens or exists
Example
The movie prefigures the director's later work.
to represent or suggest something in something before it happens or exists
Example
The poem prefigures the themes of the author's later work.
to represent or suggest something as something before it happens or exists
Example
The play prefigures the director's later work as a playwright.
Origins of prefigure
from Latin 'praefigurare', meaning 'to represent beforehand'
Summary: prefigure in Brief
The verb 'prefigure' [pri-fig-yer] means to represent or suggest something before it happens or exists, or to be a sign of something that will happen in the future. It is often used to describe how an earlier work of art or literature anticipates the style or themes of a later one, as in 'The painting prefigures his later style.' 'Prefigure' can also be used to describe how early signs of something suggest a more serious problem, as in 'The early signs of the disease prefigure a serious illness.'
