pre ‧ fig ‧ ure /ˌpriːˈfɪɡə $ -ɡjər/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Late Latin ; Origin: praefigurare , from Latin figurare 'to shape, picture' ]
formal to be a sign that something will happen later
pre ‧ fig ‧ ure /ˌpriːˈfɪɡə $ -ɡjər/ BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Late Latin ; Origin: praefigurare , from Latin figurare 'to shape, picture' ]
formal to be a sign that something will happen later
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. Longman - Словарь современного английского языка. 2012