'anisocotylism' originates from Greek-derived elements via New Latin/modern botanical coinage: 'aniso-' (from Greek 'anisos' meaning 'unequal') + 'cotyl-' (from Greek 'kotyle' meaning 'cup' used in 'cotyledon' for seed-leaf) + English suffix '-ism' indicating a state or condition.

'anisocotylism' was formed in botanical usage by combining the adjective/root 'anisocotyly' (unequal cotyledons) with the noun-forming suffix '-ism'; the element 'cotyl-' is related to the Greek 'kotyle' and entered botanical Latin formations before being used in English scientific vocabulary.

Initially it named the condition of unequal cotyledons in descriptive botany, and it has retained that specialized meaning in modern botanical contexts.