'anticachectic' originates from Greek and New Latin, specifically the prefix 'anti-' (Greek) and the New Latin adjective 'cachectic' (from Greek 'kakhexis'), where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'kakhexis' meant 'poor condition' or 'bad state'.

'anticachectic' changed from the medical/Scientific formation of 'cachexia' (from Greek into New Latin/medical usage) to the adjective 'cachectic', and in modern English the prefix 'anti-' was attached to form 'anticachectic'.

Initially it meant 'against cachexia (wasting)', and over time it has remained specialized with the current meaning of 'preventing or counteracting wasting or cachexia'.