'antienzymatic' originates from the combination of the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') and 'enzymatic', which derives from 'enzyme' (New Latin 'enzymum', from Greek 'enzymon') where 'en-' meant 'in' and 'zymē' meant 'leaven'.

'enzyme' came from Greek 'enzymon' into New Latin as 'enzymum', later entering modern English as 'enzyme'; the adjective 'enzymatic' was formed with the adjectival suffix '-atic', and 'antienzymatic' was formed by prefixing 'anti-' to 'enzymatic'.

Initially 'enzymon' literally related to 'in leaven', but over time 'enzyme' evolved to mean a biological catalyst; accordingly, 'antienzymatic' now means 'acting against enzymes or inhibiting their activity.'