'antalgic' originates from Modern Latin and French, specifically the words 'antalgicus' (Latin) and 'antalgique' (French), where the prefix 'anti-' meant 'against' and Greek 'algos' meant 'pain'.

'antalgic' developed from Greek 'antálgos' (anti- + algos), passed into Late/Modern Latin as 'antalgicus' and into French as 'antalgique', and was adopted into English in its modern form 'antalgic'.

Initially it meant 'against pain' or 'relieving pain'; over time the term has remained specialized for meanings related to pain relief (e.g., antalgic drugs or an antalgic gait).