'akroasis' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'ἀκρόασις', where 'ἀκροάομαι' meant 'to listen'.

'ἀκρόασις' was used in Ancient Greek philosophy and has been adopted into modern English to describe a similar concept of attentive listening.

Initially, it meant 'to listen attentively', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.