'age-positive' originates from Modern English, specifically combining the words 'age' and 'positive', where 'age' ultimately comes from Latin 'aetas' meaning 'period of life' and 'positive' comes from Latin 'positivus' meaning 'settled' or 'affirmative'.

'age' changed from Old French forms such as 'aage' or 'eage' and eventually became the Middle English word 'age'; 'positive' developed from Latin 'positivus' through Old French 'positif' and Middle English 'positive', and the compound 'age-positive' is a recent coinage formed by combining these elements in Modern English.

Initially, 'age' referred simply to a 'period of life' and 'positive' to 'affirmative' or 'settled'; over time, the compound evolved to mean 'expressing a favorable or affirming attitude toward aging and older people'.