'adiathermancy' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'adiathermansia,' where 'a-' meant 'not' and 'diathermansia' meant 'to pass through heat.'

'adiathermansia' transformed into the English word 'adiathermancy' through scientific terminology adaptation.

Initially, it meant 'not allowing heat to pass through,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.