'apsinthion' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'ἀψίνθιον (apsínthion)', where the root 'ψίνθ' (psínth) referred to the wormwood plant (a bitter herb).

'apsinthion' passed into Latin as 'absinthium', then into Old French as 'absinthe', and from these forms gave rise to the modern English words 'absinthe' (the spirit) and the botanical Latin 'absinthium'; the transliterated form 'apsinthion' preserves the original Greek form.

Initially, it meant 'the wormwood plant', but over time its association with the plant's bitter properties led to its use for the distilled spirit 'absinthe' and for descriptions of bitter flavors.