'anaxagorize' originates from the name 'Anaxagoras', an ancient Greek philosopher, with the English verb-forming suffix '-ize', where 'Anaxagoras' referred to the philosopher known for rational explanations of natural phenomena.

'anaxagorize' was formed in English by combining 'Anaxagoras' and '-ize', and has been used in philosophical contexts to mean 'to reason like Anaxagoras'.

Initially, it meant 'to reason or philosophize like Anaxagoras', and this meaning has remained consistent in its rare usage.