'apricate' originates from Latin, specifically from the verb 'apricare' (related to the past participle 'apricatus'), where 'apricus' meant 'sunny' or 'warmed by the sun'.

'apricate' came into English as a learned/modern formation from Late Latin/Medieval Latin 'apricatus' (past participle of 'apricare'), itself derived from Latin 'apricus'; the English word preserved the sense of exposure to the sun.

Initially, the root words meant 'sunny' or 'warmed by the sun'; over time the English verb 'apricate' came to mean specifically 'to bask in the sun' and is now considered rare or archaic.