'anterofixation' originates from Latin, specifically the elements 'ante' meaning 'before' and 'fixare' meaning 'to fasten', combined in English as 'antero-' + 'fixation'.

'anterofixation' was formed in Modern English by combining the combining form 'antero-' (from Latin 'ante', 'before') with 'fixation' (from Latin 'fixatio', via Medieval Latin and Old French influences), yielding the technical compound used in specialized fields.

Initially it effectively meant 'fastening at the front', but over time it has become a specialized term used mainly for 'prefixation' in linguistics and for anterior fixation in medical contexts.