'apotropous' originates from Greek, specifically the adjective 'apotropaios' (ἀποτρόπαιος), where the prefix 'apo-' meant 'away' and the root from 'trepein/trepo' meant 'to turn' (thus 'turning away').

'apotropous' entered English usage via learned 19th-century formation from Greek 'apotropaios' (through classical/learned borrowing), related to the noun 'apotrope'/'apotropaios' used for charms; it is closely connected to the adjective 'apotropaic' which shares the same Greek source.

Initially the Greek root conveyed the literal sense 'turning away (danger)'; over time this developed into the current English adjectival sense 'intended to ward off evil or misfortune'.