'anhydride-associated' originates from Modern English by combining the noun 'anhydride' and the past-participle adjective 'associated'. 'Anhydride' itself comes (via New Latin/Modern chemistry) from Greek elements 'an-' meaning 'without' and 'hydor' meaning 'water'; 'associated' comes from Latin 'associare' meaning 'to unite with, join to'.

'anhydride' entered scientific vocabulary through New Latin and Modern Latin (e.g. 'anhydridus') and then into English in chemical usage; 'associate' comes from Latin 'associare' → Late Latin/Old French forms → Middle English 'associate', with the past participle 'associated' used to form adjectives and compounds like this one.

Initially the Greek-derived element for 'anhydride' literally meant 'without water'; in chemistry it evolved to name compounds formed by removal of water. 'Associated' originally meant 'joined or allied with' and has maintained the sense of 'related to' in modern usage; together the compound now specifically means 'related to an anhydride' in technical contexts.