'antilopine' originates from English, formed from the noun 'antelope' plus the adjectival suffix '-ine' (from Latin '-inus'), where '-ine' meant 'relating to' or 'of the nature of'.

'antelope' entered English via Old French 'antelop' and Medieval Latin 'antilopus'; the English noun 'antelope' later took the suffix '-ine' (from Latin usage) to form the adjective 'antilopine'.

Initially the components meant 'antelope' + 'relating to'; over time 'antilopine' has retained the sense 'relating to or resembling antelopes', used mainly in technical or descriptive contexts.