'acarine' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'akari,' where 'a-' meant 'without' and 'karos' meant 'a kind of insect.'

'akari' transformed into the Latin word 'acarus,' and eventually became the modern English word 'acarine' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'a kind of insect,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'mites and ticks.'