'anhaemolytic' originates from Greek via scientific Latin, combining the prefix 'an-' meaning 'without, not', 'haemo-' from Greek 'haîma' meaning 'blood', and '-lytic' from Greek 'lytikós' (from 'lýsis') meaning 'loosening; dissolving.'

'haîma' (blood) + 'lýsis' (loosening, dissolution) formed New Latin 'haemolysis' and English 'haemolytic'; the Greek-derived privative prefix 'an-' was added to yield the modern English adjective 'anhaemolytic'.

Initially, it meant 'not causing dissolution of red blood cells (no hemolysis),' and this technical sense has remained stable in modern usage.