An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

A prefix appearing in loanwords from Gk., with the meanings

1. “after, behind;” 2) “changed, altered;” 3) “higher, beyond.” → metagalaxy; metaphysics; → metastable.

Etymology (EN): From Gk. meta (prepositin) “in the midst of, among, with, after,” originally me-ta (Mycenaean Greek), from PIE *me- “in the middle” (cf. Goth. miþ, O.E. mið “with, together with, among,” E. with).

Etymology (PE): Matâ-, from Av. matay-, mati- “protrusion of mountain range,” framanyente “to be protruding, jutting;”
from PIE base *men- “to stand out, to project;” cf. L. mons (genitive montis) “mountain,” minere “to project, jut, threaten” (other related terms: mouth, prominent, amount, etc.).