'heterological' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'heteros,' where 'hetero-' meant 'different' and 'logos' meant 'word' or 'reason.'

'heteros' transformed into the Greek word 'heterologos,' and eventually became the modern English word 'heterological.'

Initially, it meant 'different word,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'describing a word that does not possess the property it denotes.'