'astrictive' originates from Latin, specifically the verb 'adstringere' (Late Latin 'astringere'), where 'ad-' meant 'to, toward' and 'stringere' meant 'to bind or tighten'.

'astrictive' changed from Late Latin 'astringere' into English formations such as 'astriction'/'astrict' in early scientific/medical use and eventually developed into the adjective 'astrictive' in later English.

Initially it referred to the action 'to bind or tighten,' but over time it came to be used adjectivally to mean 'constricting' or 'astringent' in effect.