'acotyledony' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'acotyledon', where the prefix 'a-' meant 'not' and Greek 'kotyledon' meant 'cup' or (in botanical sense) 'seed leaf'.

'acotyledony' developed from New Latin 'acotyledon' (from Greek 'a-' + 'kotyledon'), with the English noun-forming suffix '-y' attached to create the term 'acotyledony' in modern English usage.

Initially, the components signified 'not' + 'seed leaf' (i.e., lacking seed leaves), and over time the term has maintained this specific botanical meaning of 'lacking cotyledons'.