'attractivity' originates from Latin, specifically the verb 'attrahere,' where the prefix 'ad-' (later assimilated to 'at-') meant 'toward' and 'trahere' meant 'to pull'; the adjective-forming suffix '-ive' (from Latin '-ivus') and the noun-forming suffix '-ity' (from Latin '-itas') were later added in English to form a noun meaning the quality of being 'attractive'.

'attractivity' developed from Latin 'attrahere' through Old French forms such as 'attraire' and Middle English verbs like 'attracten'/'attract', combined with the adjective 'attractive' and the nominalizing suffix '-ity' to produce the modern English noun 'attractivity'.

Initially, roots like 'attrahere' meant 'to pull toward' or 'to draw in'; over time, through evolution into Old French and Middle English and the addition of English suffixes, the sense broadened to include not only physical drawing but figurative drawing (interest, appeal), yielding the current meaning 'capacity to attract'.