(also met- before a vowel or h)
■ combining form
1》 denoting a change of position or condition: metamorphosis.
2》 denoting position behind, after, or beyond: metacarpus.
3》 denoting something of a higher or second-order kind: metalanguage.
4》 Chemistry denoting substitution at two carbon atoms separated by one other in a benzene ring: metadichlorobenzene. Compare with ortho- and para- 1 .
Origin
from Gk meta 'with, across, or after'.