'acatalectic' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'akatalēktos,' where 'a-' meant 'not' and 'katalēktos' meant 'left off or incomplete.'

'akatalēktos' transformed into the Latin word 'acatalecticus,' and eventually became the modern English word 'acatalectic.'

Initially, it meant 'not incomplete,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.