met/meta

changed, different, boundary

Spelled met, meta · meta 'after, beyond, change'

Greek meta, beyond or change: a metaphor carries meaning across, metamorphosis changes form, and metacognition steps beyond ordinary thinking.

Words built from it

metaphor — a figure of speech comparing two unlike things
meta- (across) + phor (carry)
metaphorical — symbolic rather than literal
meta- (across) + phor (carry) + -ical (relating to)
metabolism — the chemical processes that sustain life in an organism
meta (change) + bol (throw) + -ism
metamorphosis — a complete change of form
meta (change) + morph (form) + -osis
metamorphic — changed in form, as rock under heat and pressure
meta (change) + morph (form) + -ic
metaphysical — relating to abstract ideas beyond the physical
meta (beyond) + phys (nature) + -ical
metacognition — awareness of one's own thought processes
meta (beyond) + cognition (knowing)

meticulous — from Latin metus 'fear' (meticulosus 'fearful') — unrelated to Greek meta 'change, beyond'