1. serving as an early indication or representation of something that will happen or appear later
Usage: formal

Examples

• The artist’s early sketches were prefigurative of his later masterpieces.
• Many scholars view the Old Testament stories as prefigurative of New Testament events.
• The economic downturn showed prefigurative signs months before the official recession began.
• Her childhood drawings were prefigurative of her future career as an architect.
• The novel’s opening chapter is prefigurative of the tragic ending.
• Ancient myths often contain prefigurative elements that predict future cultural developments.