Where does “metatheory” come from?

metatheory (English) comes from English theory, from Middle French théorie, from Late Latin theoria, from Ancient Greek θεωρός, from Ancient Greek θέα, from Proto-Hellenic *tʰáwā.

metatheory (English): A theory about a theory; Examination of the...

Definitions

  1. A theory about a theory; Examination of the...

Ancestry of “metatheory”, step by step

metatheory traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English theory

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtheoryA description of an event or system that is...
2Middle Frenchthéorie
3Late Latintheoriacontemplation, speculation; speculation, theory
4Ancient Greekθεωρόςspectator; envoy sent to consult an oracle
5Ancient Greekθέαview, sight
6Proto-Hellenic*tʰáwā

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,...
Every word from Proto-Hellenic *tʰáwāEvery word from Ancient Greek θέαEvery word from Ancient Greek θεωρός