'eremitism' originates from Late Latin, specifically from 'eremita' meaning 'hermit', ultimately from Greek 'eremites' meaning 'of the desert' or 'desert-dweller'.

'eremites' (Greek) → 'eremita' (Late Latin) → Middle English forms such as 'eremit'/'eremite' → modern English 'eremitism' (formed with the noun-forming suffix '-ism').

Initially it referred to 'a desert-dweller' or 'hermit,' and over time it came to denote the practice or state of living as a hermit ('the practice/condition of hermit life').