Where does “metapopulation” come from?

Metapopulation derives from English metaphysics and population, combining Ancient Greek μορφή (morphē, form) and Latin populus (people), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European steh₂- (to stand).

metapopulation (English): a group of interacting populations of the same...

Definitions

  1. a group of interacting populations of the same...

Ancestry of “metapopulation”, step by step

metapopulation traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English meta

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmetaSelf-referential; structured analogously, but at...
2Latinmētacone, pyramid
3Proto-West Germanicmōtijanto meet
4Proto-Germanicmōtijanąto meet, encounter
5Proto-Germanicmōtąmeeting
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmeh₂d-to be wet, to become wet; to meet, approach,...

via English population

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpopulationThe people living within a political or...
2Late Latinpopulatioa people, multitude; the act of laying waste or...
3Latinpōpulusa people, nation
4Proto-Italicpoplosarmy
Every word from Proto-Indo-European meh₂d-
metapopulation — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer