Word Origin & History
O.E. metan, from P.Gmc. *motijanan (cf.O.N. mæta, O.S. motian "to meet"). Related to O.E. gemot "meeting." The noun, in the sporting sense, is attested from 1831, originally of hunting. Meeting "gathering of people for discussion, etc." is attested from 1513. In 17c., it was applied generally to
worship assemblies of nonconformists, but this now is retained mostly by Quakers.
O.E. gemæte "suitable, having the same dimensions," from P.Gmc. *ga-mætijaz (cf. O.N. mætr, O.H.G. gimagi, Ger. gemäß "suitable"), from collective prefix *ga- + PIE *med- "to measure." The root sense is thus the same as commensurate.