Prefigure — Pre*fig ure (?; 135), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Prefigured}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Prefiguring}.] [F. pr[ e]figurer, or L. praefigurare, praefiguratum; prae before + figurare to figure. See {Figure}, and cf. {Prefigurate}.] To show, suggest, or announce,… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
prefigure — index forewarn, portend, presage, presuppose Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
prefigure — early 15c., from L.L. praefigurare, from prae “before” (see PRE (Cf. pre )) + figurare (see FIGURE (Cf. figure)) … Etymology dictionary
prefigure — ► VERB 1) be an early indication or version of. 2) archaic imagine beforehand. DERIVATIVES prefiguration noun prefigurative adjective prefigurement noun … English terms dictionary
prefigure — [prē fig′yər, prē fig′yoor] vt. prefigured, prefiguring [ME prefiguren < LL(Ec) praefigurare < L prae , PRE + figurare, to fashion: see FIGURE] 1. to suggest beforehand; be an antecedent figure or type of; foreshadow 2. to picture to… … English World dictionary
prefigure — UK [priːˈfɪɡə(r)] / US [prɪˈfɪɡjər] verb [transitive] Word forms prefigure : present tense I/you/we/they prefigure he/she/it prefigures present participle prefiguring past tense prefigured past participle prefigured formal to have qualities that… … English dictionary
prefigure — transitive verb Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin praefigurare, from Latin prae pre + figurare to shape, picture, from figura figure Date: 15th century 1. to show, suggest, or announce by an antecedent type, image, or likeness 2. to… … New Collegiate Dictionary
prefigure — prefigurative /pree fig yeuhr euh tiv/, adj. prefiguratively, adv. prefigurativeness, n. prefigurement, n. /pree fig yeuhr/, v.t., prefigured, prefiguring. 1. to show or represent beforehand by a figure or type; foreshadow. 2. to picture or… … Universalium
prefigure — verb /priːfɪɡjɚ/ a) To show or suggest ahead of time; to represent beforehand b) To predict or foresee Syn: presage, portend … Wiktionary
prefigure — Synonyms and related words: adumbrate, assume, augur, be afraid, believe, betoken, body forth, cast a horoscope, cast a nativity, conceive, conclude, consider, daresay, deduce, deem, demonstrate, divine, dope, dope out, dowse for water, dream,… … Moby Thesaurus
prefigure — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) v. t. presage (see prediction); imagine, envisage. See imagination. II (Roget s IV) v. Syn. symbolize, signify, indicate; see mean 1 . III (Roget s Thesaurus II) verb To give an indication of something… … English dictionary for students