'acrotism' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'akrotismos,' where 'a-' meant 'without' and 'krotos' meant 'a beating or pulse.'

'akrotismos' transformed into the Latin word 'acrotismus,' and eventually became the modern English word 'acrotism.'

Initially, it meant 'without a pulse,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.