'anthracene-bearing' is a modern compound formed from 'anthracene' (originating via chemical nomenclature from Greek 'anthrax', meaning 'coal') and the English participle 'bearing' (from Old English 'beran', meaning 'to carry').

'anthracene' was coined in the 19th century in chemical nomenclature (from Greek 'anthrax' through New Latin/German usage), while 'bearing' evolved from Old English 'beran'; these elements were later combined in English technical usage to form compounds like 'anthracene-bearing'.

Initially, 'anthracene' referred to a coal-derived aromatic hydrocarbon (from 'coal'), and 'bearing' simply meant 'carrying'; together in modern chemistry the compound adjective now specifically denotes 'having an anthracene substituent or moiety'.