'acatharsia' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'akatharsia,' where 'a-' meant 'not' and 'katharsis' meant 'purification.'

'akatharsia' was used in ancient Greek texts to describe a state of impurity and eventually became the modern English word 'acatharsia.'

Initially, it meant 'a state of impurity,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.