'archidoxis' originates from Neo-Latin/Latinized Greek, specifically composed from Greek elements 'arkhi-' and 'dox-' (from 'doxa'), where 'arkhi-' meant 'chief' or 'principal' and 'doxa' meant 'opinion, belief, or teaching'.

'archidoxis' was used in Neo-Latin (notably in titles such as Paracelsus's 'Archidoxis magica') and passed into early modern scholarly English as a loanword meaning a chief or secret doctrine; the word reached modern English usage without major orthographic change as 'archidoxis'.

Initially, the components signified 'chief opinion' or 'principal teaching', and over time the word came to be used especially for a principal or secret doctrine in esoteric, alchemical, or magical contexts—its modern sense retains that specialized nuance.