'apostematic' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'ἀπόστημα' (transliterated 'apostēma'), where 'apostēma' meant 'a suppuration, abscess'.

'apostematic' changed from the Medieval/Latin word 'apostema' (from Greek 'apostēma') and entered English via Late Latin/Medieval usage, with the noun form 'aposteme' leading to the adjective 'apostematic'.

Initially, it meant 'an abscess' (the noun); over time the adjective form came to mean 'relating to or characterized by abscess formation' and is used to describe suppurative conditions.