'amino-forming' is a compound formed from the prefix 'amino-' (relating to an amino group) + the present-participial adjective 'forming' (from 'form'). 'Amino-' ultimately comes from New Latin/French 'amine' (19th century), itself from 'ammonia' (originally from Latin/Arabic), while 'forming' comes from Old French/Latin via English 'form'.

The element 'amino-' was coined in chemical nomenclature in the 19th century from 'amine' (French/New Latin), which derived from 'ammonia' (earlier Latin forms influenced by Arabic). 'Forming' derives from Latin 'formare' through Old French into Middle/Modern English; the compound 'amino-forming' is a modern English technical formation combining these elements to describe a process or property.

Initially, 'amino' elements in nomenclature were associated with substances related to ammonia; over time the term broadened to denote the -NH2 functional group in organic chemistry. Combined with 'forming', the compound now specifically denotes action or capacity to create amino groups or amino compounds.