'anaphroditous' originates from Greek, specifically the prefix 'an-' meaning 'not' and 'Aphroditē', the Greek goddess of love, combined with the suffix '-ous' meaning 'having the quality of'.

'anaphroditous' was formed in modern scientific English from Greek roots to describe organisms lacking sexual differentiation.

Initially, it meant 'not having the qualities of Aphrodite (love/sex)', and over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'having no sexual differentiation'.