The general rule for "meta" is: "meta-X" → "X about X." Examples: "meta-data" → "data about data", "meta-language" → "language about language", "meta-vanity" →

The general rule for "meta" is: "meta-X" → "X about X." Examples: "meta-data" → "data about data", "meta-language" → "language about language", "meta-vanity" → "vanity about vanity" (a concept explored by the late DFW though he termed it "second-order vanity"), etc.