'antevert' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'antevertere', where 'ante-' meant 'before' and 'vertere' meant 'to turn'.

'antevert' came into English from Late Latin/Neo-Latin 'antevertere' (built from 'ante-' + 'vertere'); the formation was adopted into English technical and anatomical usage.

Initially it meant 'to turn forward' in the literal Latin sense, and over time it has retained this core meaning, especially in anatomical contexts (e.g., a uterus that tilts forward).