'aposteme' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'apostēma' (ἀπόστημα), where 'apo-' meant 'away' and the root referred to 'a standing or protrusion' used for a swelling.

'aposteme' passed into Late Latin as 'apostema' and then into Middle English as 'aposteme', eventually becoming the rare/archaic modern English form 'aposteme'.

Initially it referred to 'a standing-out or localized swelling' in Greek medical usage; over time it came to be used specifically for an abscess and is now largely archaic or rare in modern English.