'anaphrodisiac' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anaphrodisiakos', where 'an-' meant 'not' and 'aphrodisiakos' related to Aphrodite (sexual desire).

'anaphrodisiac' changed from the Greek word 'anaphrodisiakos' into Medieval/ New Latin 'anaphrodisiacum' and eventually became the modern English word 'anaphrodisiac'.

Initially it meant 'not sexual' or 'suppressing sexual desire', and this evolved into the current meaning of 'a substance that reduces sexual desire'.