'aortitis' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'aortē' (Greek 'ἀορτή'), where the root 'aort-' meant 'aorta' and the suffix '-itis' meant 'inflammation'.

'aortitis' was formed in New Latin by combining 'aorta' + the Greek-derived suffix '-itis' and entered English via medical Latin, eventually becoming the modern English word 'aortitis'.

Initially, it meant 'inflammation of the aorta', and over time this medical meaning has remained essentially the same in modern usage.