'antarctica' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'Antarctica', where the element 'anti-' meant 'opposite' and Greek 'arktos' (or 'arktos' via 'arktikos') meant 'bear'.

'antarctica' changed from the Ancient Greek word 'antarktikos' (meaning 'opposite the Arctic') into Late/Medieval Latin forms like 'Antarcticus' and then into New Latin 'Antarctica', eventually becoming the modern English word 'antarctica'.

Initially, it meant 'opposite the Arctic' (i.e., opposite the region associated with the bear/constellation), but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'the continent around the South Pole'.