'antiscriptural' originates from Greek prefix 'anti-' and Latin 'scriptura', where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'scriptura' meant 'writing (a writing)'; the adjective element '-al' is from Latin '-alis'.

'antiscriptural' developed by combining the prefix 'anti-' (Greek) with the Late Latin/Medieval Latin adjective 'scripturalis' (from 'scriptura') and was formed into the modern English adjective 'antiscriptural'.

Initially, 'scriptural' related to 'writing' or 'writings' (and later specifically to sacred writings); over time the compound 'antiscriptural' came to mean 'against the sacred writings' or 'contrary to scripture'.