'anamorphosis' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anamorphōsis,' where 'ana-' meant 'again' or 'back' and 'morphōsis' meant 'a shaping or forming.'

'anamorphōsis' was adopted into New Latin as 'anamorphosis,' and eventually became the modern English word 'anamorphosis.'

Initially, it meant 'reshaping or transformation,' but over time it evolved into its current meanings in art and biology, referring to distorted images and gradual morphological changes.