'arborolatrist' originates from Latin and Greek: specifically Latin 'arbor', where 'arbor' meant 'tree', combined with the Greek-derived element from 'latreia' (via the suffix '-latry') meaning 'worship' and the agentive English suffix '-ist'.

'arborolatrist' was formed in modern English from the noun 'arborolatry' (tree worship), which itself combines Latin 'arbor' and the Greek-derived element '-latry' (from 'latreia'). The agentive suffix '-ist' was added to create a noun meaning 'one who practices arborolatry'.

Initially, the components meant 'tree' (arbor) and 'worship' (latreia); over time they combined into the modern English formation meaning 'a person who worships trees'.