'asyllabia' originates from New Latin/medical formation, specifically from Greek elements 'a-' meaning 'not' and 'syllabē' meaning 'a throwing together' (used for 'syllable').

'asyllabia' was formed in New Latin or late scholarly usage from Greek 'a-' + 'syllabē'; Greek 'syllabē' passed into Late Latin as 'syllaba' and then into English-derived medical/technical coinages as 'asyllabia'.

Initially and throughout its recorded use it has referred to 'lack of syllables' or 'absence of syllabic structure'; the basic sense has been preserved though its use is specialized and rare in modern English.