'anatreptic' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anatreptikos,' where 'ana-' meant 'up, back' and 'trepein' meant 'to turn.'

'anatreptikos' was adopted into scientific Latin as 'anatrepticus,' and eventually became the modern English word 'anatreptic.'

Initially, it meant 'turning back or reversing,' and this meaning has been retained in its modern scientific usage.