'anti-' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anti', where 'anti-' meant 'against', combined with English 'leak' (via 'leakage'), which comes from older English roots meaning 'to let out' or 'to escape'.

'leak' developed through Old and Middle English forms (e.g., Old English/Middle English verbs meaning to let out or escape), became modern English 'leak' and then formed the noun 'leakage'; 'anti-leakage' is a modern English compound formed by combining the prefix 'anti-' with 'leakage'.

Initially, the root meant 'to let out' or 'to escape'; over time 'leakage' came to mean 'the act or amount of leaking', and adding 'anti-' produced the current meaning 'against or preventing leaking'.