prefigure

• Verbe désignant le fait d'annoncer, de représenter ou d'être un signe précurseur de quelque chose à venir dans le futur ; suggérer ou esquisser à l'avance.

A verb used to indicate the act of suggesting, representing, or being an early sign of something that will happen in the future.

1. Imagine or consider beforehandC1formal

   To imagine, picture, or conceive of something before it happens.

   Imaginer ou envisager à l'avance

   • The artist prefigured the final painting in his sketches.
   • She prefigured the difficulties of the journey in her mind.
   • The novel prefigures a dystopian future.

   Synonymesanticipateenvisageenvisionforeseeimaginepicturepreconceive

   Antonymesdisregardforgetignoreoverlook

2. Indicate by signsC1formal

   To be a sign or warning of something that will happen in the future.

   Préfigurer (annoncer par des signes)

   • The early frost prefigured a harsh winter.
   • His sudden silence prefigured the bad news.
   • The economic downturn prefigured the company's collapse.

   Synonymesaugurbetokenforeshadowforetokenheraldomenportendpresageprognosticate