'absorptivity' originates from the Latin word 'absorptio,' where 'abs-' meant 'away' and 'sorbere' meant 'to suck.'

'absorptio' transformed into the English word 'absorption,' and eventually became the modern English word 'absorptivity.'

Initially, it meant 'the act of absorbing,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'the property of a material to absorb radiation.'