prefigures

Prefigure, as a verb, means to indicate beforehand what will later manifest or to anticipate in form or meaning. The noun form prefiguration refers to the act or result of such foreshadowing. The word derives from Latin prae- “before” and figura “form, figure,” entering English via Old French and early modern usage. In common discourse, prefigure often overlaps with foreshadowing, but it is frequently used to emphasize a structural or symbolic likeness that points toward a future reality.

In biblical and literary contexts, prefigures are events, persons, or motifs understood as symbolic foreshadowing of later realities. In Christian typology, Old Testament narratives or figures are described as prefiguring New Testament truths or events, suggesting a planned or meaningful correspondence across times. In literary criticism, early scenes or motifs can prefigure later developments, contributing to coherence, thematic unity, or resonance through parallel patterns.

In secular and political theory, prefigurative or prefigurative politics refers to practices that embody the future society they seek to create. Proponents argue that organizing, governance, and social relations should model the desired end state in the present, not merely advocate for it. Examples include cooperative work arrangements, participatory decision-making, and mutual aid networks. Critics may question whether such practices reliably predict or produce the intended outcomes, but supporters view them as demonstrations of principle.

Overall, prefigure describes an anticipatory link—where an earlier element resembles, signals, or structures what comes after—across religious, literary, and social contexts.