'antipyresis' originates from Neo-Latin/Greek, specifically the Greek word 'antipyrēsis', where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'pyrē/pyret-' meant 'fever' (literally 'fire').

'antipyresis' changed from Greek 'antipyrēsis' and was adopted into Neo-Latin medical vocabulary, later entering English as the medical term 'antipyresis'.

Initially, it meant 'action against fever', and over time it has retained and come to be used specifically for the 'reduction or abatement of fever' in medical contexts.