'appositionally' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'appositio', where 'ad-' (appearing as 'ap-') meant 'to/toward' and 'ponere' (root 'posit-') meant 'to place'.

'appositionally' changed from Latin 'appositio' into Old French/Medieval forms such as 'apposition' and then into Middle English 'apposition', eventually yielding the adjective 'appositional' and the adverb 'appositionally' in modern English.

Initially, it meant 'a placing near' (a literal placing beside), but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'being placed next to another element to rename, identify, or explain it' (especially in grammatical usage).