Mid 17th century; earliest use found in Robert Lovell (?1630–1690), naturalist. From post-classical Latin metasyncriticus or its etymon Hellenistic Greek μετασυγκριτικός from ancient Greek μετα- + συγκριτικός (from συν- + κριτικός, after ancient Greek σύγκρισις), after Hellenistic Greek μετασύγκρισις.