'anthropomantist' originates from Greek, specifically from 'ánthrōpos' meaning 'human' and 'mántis' (or the stem of 'manteia') meaning 'seer' or 'divination'.

'anthropomantist' is formed in English from the combining form 'anthropo-' (from Greek 'ánthrōpos') plus an element related to Greek 'mántis'/'manteia' (used in words for divination). The noun follows the pattern of terms like 'necromancer' and 'haruspist', coming into English via Late Latin/Medieval usage of divination-related formations and later coinage in modern English.

Initially, the roots referred generally to 'human' and 'seer/divination'; over time the compound has come to refer specifically to someone who performs divination using human bodies or their parts.