'apodictive' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'apodeiktikos', where 'apo-' meant 'away/from' and 'deik-' (from 'deiknynai') meant 'to show'.

'apodictive' changed from the Greek adjective 'apodeiktikos' into Late Latin/Latinized forms (e.g. 'apodicticus'), then into English as 'apodictic' and the related form 'apodictive'.

Initially, it meant 'capable of being demonstrated' in the sense of being shown clearly; over time it has come to mean 'demonstrably certain' or 'logically incontestable' in modern usage.