'antaphrodisiac' originates from Greek, specifically from the elements 'an-' + 'aphrodisiakos', where 'an-' meant 'not' (or 'against') and 'aphrodisiakos' related to 'Aphrodite' (the goddess associated with sexual desire).

'aphrodisiac' entered English via Late Latin 'aphrodisiacus' and French 'aphrodisiaque'; the negative prefix 'an-' or 'anti-' was later attached to form 'anaphrodisiac'/'antaphrodisiac' meaning something that opposes or reduces sexual desire.

Initially related to 'Aphrodite' or sexual desire (things that arouse desire); over time 'aphrodisiac' came to mean 'a substance that increases sexual desire', while 'antaphrodisiac' evolved to mean 'a substance that decreases or suppresses sexual desire.'