'aposthume' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'apostema', ultimately from Greek 'ἀπόστημα' ('apostēma'), where the term referred to a 'swelling' or 'abscess'.

'aposthume' changed from Old French 'apostume' and Middle English 'apostume' and appeared in Early Modern English spelling variants before becoming archaic in later usage.

Initially it meant 'a swelling or abscess' in medical contexts, and over time it retained that specific meaning but fell out of general use in favor of modern terms like 'abscess'.