prefigurement
1
9.1
- noun
- /ˌpriːˈfɪɡərmənt/
- Literature
- The early success of the project served as a prefigurement of its eventual expansion across the country.
Examples
-
The relation to this highest authority, this highest presence, is embodied in the innocent suffering of the Just One, here Uriah, whom Jung sees as a prefigurement of Christ.
Academic text (1993) -
Perhaps he cuts his throat, which would be a prefigurement of all the blood sacrifices to come.
Academic text (2001) -
The dark storm clouds were a clear prefigurement of the chaos that would soon follow.
-
Her dreams often acted as a prefigurement of events that would later unfold in her life.
Synonyms
51
4.9
A sign or event that people think shows what will happen next
9
8.7
A sign that something important, often bad, will happen
8
6.7
A hint early in a story that shows what will happen later
1
9.9
An event or example that shows what will happen later
A sign that something important will happen soon
Antonyms
How Strong
- Formal
9
8.7
51
4.9
- Literature
1
9.1
∞
3.2
445
3.9
276
1.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
prefigurement = prefigure (semi-transparent) = pre + figure + ment
The suffix '-ment' straightforwardly forms a noun meaning the act, result, or instance of 'prefigure'.
Etymology
The word prefigurement comes from the parts pre- meaning 'before' and figure meaning 'shape' or 'image'. A helpful way to remember it is to think of a 'figure seen before', a small sign or picture of what will come later, so a prefigurement is something that shows or suggests a future event.