'anecdotist' originates from the Greek word 'anekdotos', where 'an-' meant 'not' and 'ekdotos' meant 'published'.

'anekdotos' transformed into the French word 'anecdote', and eventually became the modern English word 'anecdotist'.

Initially, it meant 'unpublished stories', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a person who tells anecdotes'.