'antihypertensive' originates from modern English, specifically formed by combining the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti', meaning 'against') with 'hypertensive' (from 'hypertension'), where 'hyper-' (Greek) meant 'over' and 'tension' derives from Latin 'tensio'/'tendere' meaning 'to stretch or extend'.

'antihypertensive' developed from 'hypertensive' (adjective form related to 'hypertension'), which itself comes from Greek 'hyper-' + Latin-derived 'tension' (through medical Latin/English usage). The compound 'anti-' + 'hypertensive' formed in modern medical English to denote agents opposing high blood pressure.

Initially it literally combined the senses 'against' + 'excessive tension'; over time it evolved into the specific medical sense of 'an agent or property that lowers abnormally high blood pressure'.