'adsorb' originates from the Latin word 'adsorbere', where 'ad-' meant 'toward' and 'sorbere' meant 'to suck in'.

'adsorbere' transformed into the French word 'adsorber', and eventually became the modern English word 'adsorb' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'to suck in or absorb', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to hold molecules on a surface'.