preexistent
Existing before now
Preexistent means existing beforehand or prior to something else.
The term appears most often in theological contexts—the preexistent Christ, the preexistent soul—referring to existence before earthly life or creation.
More generally, it describes anything that was already there: The new law didn't affect preexistent contracts.
Unaffected by eras
- agelessWithout apparent deterioration
- everlastingLasting for all time
- perpetualLasting without interruption
- infiniteHaving no bounds
unending · primordial · sempiternal · beginningless · uncreated · eternal · deathless · imperishable
Existing before another
- precedingComing before in order
- foregoingPreviously mentioned or stated
- anteriorSituated toward the front
- precursorSomething that comes first
previous · earlier · former · prerequisite · preliminary · precedent · antecedent
Independent of experience
- innateExisting since birth
- metaphysicalBeyond the material realm
- universalsProperties holding across all
- essenceFundamental nature of something
transcendental · ontological · inherent · abstract · idealism · substance · potentiality · actuality
Existing beneath the surface
- primordialExisting from the start
- fundamentalForming the base
- originalFirst or inventive
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
basis · groundwork · pre-established · latent · root · seed · germinal
Divinely predetermined fate
- foreknowledgeAwareness of future events
- foreordinationPredetermined divine decree
- divine willGod's sovereign intention
- providenceDivine protective care
omniscience · sovereignty · election · grace · salvation · decrees · transcendence · theodicy
timeless
Unaffected by eras
- agelessWithout apparent deterioration
- everlastingLasting for all time
- perpetualLasting without interruption
infinite · unending · primordial · sempiternal · beginningless · uncreated · eternal · deathless · imperishable · endless
prior
Existing before another
- precedingComing before in order
- foregoingPreviously mentioned or stated
- anteriorSituated toward the front
precursor · previous · earlier · former · prerequisite · preliminary · precedent · antecedent
a priori
Independent of experience
- innateExisting since birth
- metaphysicalBeyond the material realm
- universalsProperties holding across all
essence · transcendental · ontological · inherent · abstract · idealism · substance · potentiality · actuality · uncaused
underlying
Existing beneath the surface
- primordialExisting from the start
- fundamentalForming the base
- originalFirst or inventive
substrate · basis · groundwork · pre-established · latent · root · seed · germinal
predestination
Divinely predetermined fate
- foreknowledgeAwareness of future events
- foreordinationPredetermined divine decree
- divine willGod's sovereign intention
providence · omniscience · sovereignty · election · grace · salvation · decrees · transcendence · theodicy · reprobation
preexistentsubsequent
Occurring after something else
later · succeeding · following · posterior · ensuing