'atticize' originates from English, ultimately from Greek via Latin; specifically from 'Attic' (from Latin 'Atticus', from Greek 'Attikos'), combined with the suffix '-ize' (from Greek '-izein' via Latin/French), where 'Attikos' meant 'of Attica (the region around Athens)'.

'atticize' developed from the adjective 'Attic' (from Latin 'Atticus', from Greek 'Attikos') plus the productive English suffix '-ize'; the idea of making or rendering into the Attic style was formed in later English usage from these elements.

Initially it meant 'to render into the Attic dialect or manner', and over time it has retained that core sense of imitating or adopting the Attic (classical Athenian) style in language or literature.