'anthelic' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anthelion', where 'anti-' meant 'opposite' and 'helios' meant 'sun'.

'anthelic' changed from the Modern Greek/Latin scientific term 'anthelion', which entered English usage in descriptions of halo phenomena and later produced the adjective form 'anthelic'.

Initially, it referred to the noun 'a bright spot or halo opposite the sun', but over time it evolved into the adjectival sense 'located opposite the sun' or 'relating to such halo phenomena'.