'abalienate' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'abalienare,' where 'ab-' meant 'away' and 'alienare' meant 'to make another's.'

'abalienare' transformed into the French word 'abaliener,' and eventually became the modern English word 'abalienate' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'to make another's or to estrange,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.