'anthologize' originates from Modern English, specifically formed from the noun 'anthology' plus the suffix '-ize'; 'anthology' ultimately comes from Greek 'anthologia', where 'anthos' meant 'flower' and 'logia' (from 'legein') meant 'gathering/collection'.

'anthologize' changed from the Modern English noun 'anthology' (itself borrowed into English via Latin/French from Greek 'anthologia') and was later verbalized in Modern English by adding the productive verb-forming suffix '-ize', eventually becoming the verb 'anthologize'.

Initially the root 'anthologia' referred to a 'collection of flowers' (used metaphorically for a 'collection of choice literary pieces'), and over time the derived verb 'anthologize' came to mean specifically 'to select and collect works into an anthology'.