Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “meta” come from?

Meta derives from English metaphysics and English metamorphosis, both from Ancient Greek μεθίστημι and μορφή, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European steh₂-.

meta (English): Self-referential; structured analogously, but at...

Definitions

  1. Self-referential; structured analogously, but at...

Ancestry of “meta”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinmēta—
2Proto-West Germanicmōtijanto meet
3Proto-Germanicmōtijanąto meet, encounter
4Proto-Germanicmōtąmeeting
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmeh₂d-to be wet, to become wet; to meet, approach,...

Words derived from “meta”

  • metalimnion
Every word from Proto-Indo-European meh₂d- →