'antileptic' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'anti-' and 'lepsis', where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'lepsis' meant 'seizure'.

'antileptic' changed from Greek 'antileptikos' and through Late Latin/Neo-Latin 'antilepticus' and eventually became the modern English word 'antileptic'.

Initially, it meant 'against seizures', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'preventing or treating epilepsy' (applied both as an adjective and as a noun for medications).