'anticaustic' originates from the combining form 'anti-' (from Greek/Latin, meaning 'against') joined with the adjective 'caustic', which ultimately comes from Greek 'kaustikos', where 'kaiein' meant 'to burn'.

'anticaustic' was formed in English by prefixing 'anti-' to 'caustic' (from Greek 'kaustikos' → Late Latin 'causticus' → English 'caustic'); the modern English compound reflects this direct combination rather than passage through a single intermediary language.

Initially it meant 'preventing burning or corrosive action', and over time it has remained largely stable in meaning as a term for substances or qualities that counteract causticity.