'antiperistaltically' originates from Greek elements via Modern English: the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti', meaning 'against') combined with 'peristaltic' (from Greek 'peristaltikos'), where 'peri-' meant 'around' and the root related to 'contraction' in the sense of wave-like muscle movement.

'antiperistaltically' was formed in Modern English by adding the adverbial suffix '-ally' to the adjective 'antiperistaltic' (which itself derives from 'antiperistalsis' + -tic), and ultimately traces back to Greek roots ('anti-' + 'peristaltikos').

Initially coined to describe movement 'against peristalsis', the term has retained that specialized, technical meaning in medical and physiological usage.