'aurification' originates from Latin, specifically the Medieval/Late Latin word 'aurificatio' (from the verb 'aurificare'), where the root 'aur-' (from 'aurum') meant 'gold' and the element '-ficatio' (from 'facere' via '-ficare') meant 'making' or 'doing'.

'aurification' changed from the Late/Medieval Latin 'aurificatio' (formed from 'aurificare') and was adopted into English coinage and technical usage, preserving the structure 'aur- + -fication' to mean 'the act of making gold'.

Initially it meant 'the act of making or producing gold' (literal gold-making); over time it has retained that primary sense and is also used metaphorically for 'gilding' or 'giving a golden/valuable appearance'.