'asphyxiate' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'asphuxia', where 'a-' meant 'without' and 'sphuxis' (or 'sphux-') meant 'pulse' or 'throbbing'.

'asphyxiate' came into English via Late Latin and Middle French (e.g. Late Latin/Medieval Latin forms and French 'asphyxier') and eventually became the modern English word 'asphyxiate' in the late 16th century.

Initially it was used in the sense of 'loss of pulse / stopping the heart', but over time its meaning shifted to the broader sense 'to deprive of oxygen' or 'to suffocate'.