'anhydric' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anhydros', where 'an-' meant 'without' and 'hydor' meant 'water'; in English it was formed with the suffix '-ic', influenced by the noun 'anhydride' (from Modern Latin 'anhydridum').

'anhydros' in Greek influenced Modern Latin 'anhydridum' → English 'anhydride'; the adjective 'anhydric' then developed in English by adding '-ic' to denote 'of/pertaining to' the anhydride or water-free state.

Initially, it meant 'without water', and in technical chemistry it also took on the sense 'of an anhydride' while retaining the core idea of water absence.