'depreciation' originates from Late Latin, specifically the word 'depretiāre' (or 'depretiare'), where 'de-' meant 'down' and 'pretium' meant 'price'.

'depreciation' changed from Late Latin 'depretiāre' and Medieval Latin forms into Old French/Anglo-Norman influences and eventually became the modern English word 'depreciation'.

Initially, it meant 'to lower the price', but over time it evolved into its current meanings of 'loss or reduction in value' and the accounting sense 'an allocated charge for asset value decline'.