'apocopate' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'apocopare', ultimately from Greek 'apokopē' where 'apo-' meant 'away' and 'koptein' meant 'to cut'.

'apocopate' changed from New Latin 'apocopare' (via Medieval/early modern scholarly Latin and French influence) and was adopted into English as 'apocopate', with the adjective/past participle form 'apocopated' following regular English -ed formation.

Initially, it meant 'to cut off the end (especially of a word)', and over time it has retained that core meaning in linguistic usage.