'arcuate' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'arcuatus', which is the past participle of 'arcuare' (from 'arcus'), where 'arcus' meant 'bow'.

'arcuate' changed from the Latin past-participle form 'arcuatus' (Late Latin) into Medieval/Scientific Latin usages and was borrowed into English as 'arcuate' in the late Middle English/early modern period, eventually producing the English adjective and related verb forms such as 'arcuated'.

Initially it meant 'made like a bow' or 'bent into an arc', and over time it has retained that core sense of 'bow-shaped' or 'arched' in modern usage.