Meta
/ˈmɛtə/noun
A prefix meaning 'beyond' or 'transcending.'
Did you know?In ancient Greek, 'meta' was often used in philosophical texts to indicate a deeper understanding or transcendence of a subject, hinting at the mystical quest for knowledge.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
μετά (metá)
“indicating change, or going beyond”
Late Latin
Latin
meta
“a turning point, boundary, or limit”
16th Century
English
meta
“used as a prefix in academic contexts, denoting transcendence or abstraction”
Modern English
English
meta
“now commonly used to describe self-referential concepts or layers of meaning in various fields”
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