'anthropomantic' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anthrōpomanteia', where 'anthrōpos' meant 'human' and 'manteia' meant 'divination'.

'anthrōpomanteia' passed into Medieval Latin/late Latin as 'anthropomantia' (or 'anthropomantia') and into English as the noun 'anthropomancy'; the adjective 'anthropomantic' was formed later by adding the adjectival suffix '-ic'.

Initially it referred specifically to practices of divination involving humans (often extreme acts such as human sacrifice or inspection of human entrails); over time its usage narrowed to an adjectival sense meaning 'relating to anthropomancy' or more generally 'pertaining to divination involving humans.'