'antihydrophobic' is a modern English formation combining the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek, meaning 'against') with the adjective 'hydrophobic' (formed from Greek 'hydro-' meaning 'water' and 'phobos' meaning 'fear' or 'aversion').

'antihydrophobic' was formed in modern scientific/technical English by prefixing 'anti-' to 'hydrophobic'. 'Hydrophobic' itself comes from Greek roots 'hydro-' + 'phobos' and entered scientific English via New Latin/Modern coinage.

Initially, the elements meant 'against' + 'water-fearing/repellent'; in modern usage the combined term describes a property that counteracts or negates water-repelling behavior (effectively promoting wetting or affinity for water).