'catabolize' originates from New Latin and Ancient Greek, specifically the Greek verb 'kataballein' or noun 'katabole', where 'kata-' meant 'down' and 'ballein' meant 'to throw'.

'catabolize' developed in scientific English in the late 19th century from New Latin/Greek roots: Greek 'kataballein' → Neo-Latin/medical formation 'catabol-' (relating to catabole/catabolism) + English verb-forming suffix '-ize' → modern English 'catabolize'.

Initially connected to the idea 'to throw down' or 'a casting down' in Greek, its meaning shifted in scientific usage to 'to break down chemically' (specifically metabolic breakdown) and has remained specialized in that sense.