(ˈ)prē+ transitive verb
Etymology: Middle English prefiguren, from Late Latin praefigurare, from Latin prae- pre- + figurare to shape, picture — more at figure
1. : to show, suggest, or announce beforehand : offer or constitute an antecedent type, image, or likeness of : represent in advance
children who supply us with the images by which we prefigure the angelic choirs — Mary Austin
2. : to picture or imagine beforehand : foresee , predict
few writers care to prefigure the future, even for so short a span — Times Literary Supplement