'asservilize' originates from French, specifically the verb 'asservir' (itself from Late Latin 'adservire'), where 'ad-' meant 'to' and 'servire' meant 'to serve (be a slave)'.

'asservilize' changed from French 'asservir' and the Late Latin 'adservire' and was later built in English by combining the stem 'asservil-' with the productive English verbal suffix '-ize' to form 'asservilize'.

Initially it meant 'to cause to serve or be enslaved', and over time the sense broadened to 'to make servile or submissive (in status, attitude, or condition)'.