'anapestic' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'anapaestus,' which came from Greek 'anapaistos,' where 'ana-' meant 'back' and 'paiein' meant 'to strike.'

'anapaistos' transformed into the Latin 'anapaestus,' then into the English 'anapest,' and eventually became the modern English word 'anapestic.'

Initially, it referred to a specific metrical foot in Greek and Latin poetry, and this meaning has remained consistent in modern English, now also used as an adjective.