'anuretic' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'anureticus', where the prefix 'an-' meant 'without' and the element 'ouron' (from Greek) meant 'urine'.

'anuretic' was formed in English via New Latin 'anureticus', itself built on Greek elements 'an-' + 'ouron'; this mirrors the formation of terms like 'diuretic' (Greek 'diourein' → New Latin 'diureticus').

Initially it meant 'relating to the absence of urine' in medical usage, and it has retained that specialized clinical meaning in modern English.