'aphthartodocetae' originates from Greek elements, specifically 'aphthartos' and 'dokētai', where 'aphthartos' meant 'incorruptible' and 'dokētai' (from 'dokein') meant 'those who seem' (i.e., 'those who hold that Christ only seemed to suffer').

'aphthartos' + 'dokētai' passed into Medieval and theological Latin/English usage (through Medieval Latin/Greek scholarship) as 'aphthartodocetae', used in patristic and later theological writings to name that group.

Initially it designated 'those who taught that Christ's body was incorruptible (and only appeared corruptible or to suffer)'; over time it has become an archaic or technical historical term used chiefly by scholars of early Christian heresies.