'appetize' originates from Modern English, formed from the noun 'appetite' plus the verb-forming suffix '-ize'. 'appetite' comes from Old French 'apetit'/'appetit', from Latin 'appetitus', where 'appetere' meant 'to desire or long for'.

'appetize' was formed in English by adding '-ize' to 'appetite' (itself from Old French 'apetit'/'appetit' < Latin 'appetitus'), and later yielded forms such as the past participle 'appetized'.

Initially related to 'appetite' (a desire for food), the verb form came to mean 'to stimulate desire for food' or 'to make appetizing'; the core sense of arousing appetite has been retained.