What is "preexistence"

Preexistence \Pre`["e]x*ist"ence\, n.

1. Existence in a former state, or previous to something else.

   Wisdom declares her antiquity and pre["e]xistence to all the works of this earth.
   --T. Burnet.

2. Existence of the soul before its union with the body; -- a doctrine held by certain philosophers.
   --Addison.

n. 1 The condition of existing prior to the current time 2 The existence of a soul in a previous embodiment

n. existing in a former state or previous to something else