noun
Meaning 1
That which prefigures or appears to predict; a harbinger.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
prefigure
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/pɹiːfɪɡjɚ/
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US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
verb
Meaning 2
To show or suggest ahead of time; to represent beforehand.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: often in a Biblical context
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 3
To predict or foresee.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 4
indicate by signs
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- These signs bode bad news
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: bode, portend, auspicate, prognosticate, omen, presage, betoken, foreshadow, augur, foretell, forecast, predict
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: bespeak, betoken, indicate, point, signal
Narrower terms: threaten, foreshow
verb
Meaning 5
imagine or consider beforehand
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- It wasn't as bad as I had prefigured
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: imagine, conceive of, ideate, envisage
History
Etymology
From Middle English prefiguren, from Latin praefigurare, from figurare (“to shape, picture”).
Across languages
Translations
3 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Bulgarian: загатвам предварително (zagatvam predvaritelno) — show ahead of time
- French: préfigurer — show ahead of time
- Spanish: prefigurar — show ahead of time