'appetite-enhancing' originates from English, specifically the words 'appetite' and 'enhance'. 'appetite' ultimately comes from Latin 'appetitus' (from 'appetere'), where 'appetere' meant 'to desire, seek after'; 'enhance' comes via Old French 'enhauncer' (from Late Latin/Latin elements related to 'altus') where roots meant 'to make high' or 'raise'.

'appetite' changed from Latin 'appetitus' into Old French and then Middle English 'appetite'; 'enhance' developed from Old French 'enhauncer' and entered Middle English as 'enhauncen' before becoming the Modern English 'enhance'; the compound form 'appetite-enhancing' is a modern English compound combining these two elements.

Initially, 'appetite' meant a general 'desire' and 'enhance' meant 'to raise or make higher'; over time, when combined as 'appetite-enhancing' the meaning narrowed to 'raising or stimulating the desire specifically to eat'.