'anthologize'/'anthologise' originates from Greek via New Latin and English, specifically the Greek word 'anthologia', where 'anthos' meant 'flower' and 'legein' meant 'to gather'.

'anthologia' passed into Late Latin/Medieval Latin as 'anthologia', then into English as 'anthology' (a collection of literary works). The verb was formed later in English by adding the verb-forming suffix '-ize'/'-ise' to 'anthology', producing 'anthologize'/'anthologise'.

Initially 'anthologia' carried the image of a 'gathering (of flowers)' and then 'a gathering of literary pieces'; over time the verb came to mean 'to compile or include works in an anthology' and 'to be included in an anthology' in its past/p.p. form.