'catalyse' originates from Neo-Latin, specifically the word 'catalysis', where the Greek elements 'kata-' meant 'down' and 'lysis' (from 'lyein') meant 'loosening' or 'splitting'.

'catalyse' developed from Greek 'katalyein' and Neo-Latin 'catalysis'; the noun 'catalysis' was adopted into scientific use in the early 19th century and the English verb 'catalyse' arose later in that century.

Initially it referred to 'loosening' or 'breaking down' in the original Greek sense, but over time it evolved to mean 'accelerating or enabling a chemical reaction' and, by extension, 'accelerating change' in broader usage.