'antiepileptic' originates from Greek elements: the prefix 'anti-' meaning 'against' combined with 'epileptic' from Greek 'epileptikos' (from 'epilepsia' meaning 'seizure'), where 'epi-' meant 'upon' and 'lambanein' meant 'to seize'.

'antiepileptic' was formed in English by combining the prefix 'anti-' with the adjective 'epileptic'; 'epileptic' entered English via Late Latin 'epilepticus' from Greek 'epileptikos', which came from 'epilepsia'.

Initially it meant 'acting against epilepsy' or 'countering seizures'; over time it has come to mean specifically 'used to prevent or treat epileptic seizures', especially referring to drugs.