Lexical Definition

‎προϋπάρχω‎ proÿpárchō (pro-oop-ar'-kho) be formerly ^G:V
from ‎πρό‎ and ‎ὑπάρχω‎

+ be before(-time).

• to exist before, i.e. (adverbially) to be or do something previously

Abbott-Smith

** προ-ϋπ-άρχω, [in LXX: Jb 42:18*;]
1. to be beforehand in.
2. to be before or previously: c. ptcp., Lk 23:12, Ac 8:9.†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

προϋπ-άρχω,

take the initiative in a thing, with genitive, ἀδικίας [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τῶν εὐεργεσιῶν, τῆς ἔχθρας, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with neuter adjective, π. τι ἔς τινα [Refs 2nd c.AD+] —passive, τὰ προϋπηργμένα εἰς αὑτόν benefits formerly received, [προϋπάρχωηργμένα ἀδικήματα 4th c.AD: Iamblichus Philosophus “de Mysteriis” 4.5. ">Refs 4th c.BC+]

__II intransitive, exist before, be pre-existent, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ νόμοι οἱ προϋπάρχοντες [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἡ τῶν σωμάτων αὔξησις ἐκ προϋπαρχόντων ἐστίν from pre-existent materials, [προϋπάρχωαρχούσης γίνεται γνώσεως [prev. author] “APo.” 0.71a1 ">Refs 4th c.BC+]; προϋπάρξαντα things that happened before, past events, variant for{πρὶν ὑπ}. in [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τὰ προϋπάρχοντα former possessions, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; οἱ π. ὕπατοι the previous consuls, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]perfect passive, τὰ προϋπηργμένα antecedents, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; οἰκειότης, χάρις προϋπηργμένη, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
__II.2 with genitive, προϋπάρχειν δεῖ τὸ κινοῦν τοῦ κινουμένου must exist before.. , [Refs 4th c.BC+]; to be logically prior, μέθοδος πασῶν προϋπάρχουσα καὶ κυριωτέρα [Refs 2nd c.AD+]