'aspectual' originates from Latin via Old French and English usage, specifically the Latin word 'aspectus' (from 'aspicere'), where 'aspicere' meant 'to look' and the suffix '-ual' derives from Latin '-alis'/'-ualis' meaning 'pertaining to'.

'aspectual' changed from the Latin word 'aspectus' into Old French 'aspect', then into Middle English 'aspect', and the modern English adjective was formed by adding the suffix to create 'aspectual'.

Initially, the root 'aspectus' referred to 'a sight' or 'appearance'; over time, the sense broadened and in modern linguistic usage 'aspectual' came to mean 'relating to grammatical aspect' or 'relating to an aspect'.