'anti-figurative' originates from Modern English as a compound of the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') and 'figurative' (from Latin 'figurativus', from 'figura' meaning 'shape' or 'form').

'figurative' came into English via Old French and Middle English from Latin 'figura'/'figurativus'; the productive prefix 'anti-' (from Greek) was later combined with 'figurative' in Modern English to form the compound 'anti-figurative' to express opposition to figurative modes.

Initially, 'figurative' referred to 'relating to a figure or shape' and then extended to 'using figures of speech'; 'anti-figurative' developed to mean 'against figurative or metaphorical expression', emphasizing literal or non-figurative approaches.