preexist

pre·ex·ist

 (prē′ĭg-zĭst′)
v. pre·ex·ist·ed, pre·ex·ist·ing, pre·ex·ists
v.tr.
To exist before (something); precede: Dinosaurs preexisted humans.
v.intr.
To exist beforehand.
pre′ex·is′tence n.
pre′ex·is′tent adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

pre•ex•ist

or pre-ex•ist

(ˌpri ɪgˈzɪst)

v.i.
1. to exist beforehand.
v.t.
2. to antedate; precede.
[1590–1600]
pre`ex•ist′ence, n.
pre`ex•ist′ent, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Verb1.preexist - exist beforehand or prior to a certain point in time; "Did this condition pre-exist?"
exist, be - have an existence, be extant; "Is there a God?"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
Mentioned in
References in classic literature
But the thought is always prior to the fact; all the facts of history preexist in the mind as laws.
In the man, could we lay him open, we should see the reason for the last flourish and tendril of his work; as every spine and tint in the sea-shell preexists in the secreting organs of the fish.
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Yet its moral element preexisted in the actor, and its quality as right or wrong it was easy to predict.
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