'anecdota' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anekdota', where 'an-' meant 'not' and 'ekdotos' meant 'published'.

'anecdota' changed from the Greek word 'anekdota' and was adopted into Latin as 'anecdota', eventually becoming the English word 'anecdota'.

Initially, it meant 'things not published', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a collection of unpublished or secret stories'.