'areopagitic' originates from Late Latin, specifically the word 'Areopagiticus', where the element 'Areopag-' referred to 'Areopagus' (the Ares' hill/council) and the suffix '-icus'/'-itic' meant 'pertaining to'.

'areopagitic' changed from the Late Latin/Medieval Latin word 'Areopagiticus' (and from Greek 'Areopagos') and eventually became the modern English adjective 'areopagitic'.

Initially, it meant 'pertaining to the Areopagus (the hill or its council)', and over time it has retained that core meaning, applied more generally to matters resembling a high judicial or council authority.