'heteronymous' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'heteronymos,' where 'hetero-' meant 'different' and '-onymos' meant 'named.'

'heteronymos' transformed into the Late Latin word 'heteronymus,' and eventually became the modern English word 'heteronymous' through scientific and linguistic usage.

Initially, it meant 'having a different name,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'having different names or forms, especially in different contexts or grammatical cases.'