'hypertension' originates from Greek and Latin (via French/English), specifically the Greek prefix 'hyper-' and the element 'tension' from Old French/Latin; 'hyper-' meant 'over, beyond' and the Latin root related to 'tendere' meant 'to stretch'.

'hypertension' was formed in modern English by combining Greek 'hyper-' + English/French 'tension' (Old French 'tension', from Latin 'tensus'/'tendere'). The compound arose in medical usage in the 19th century to describe abnormally high blood pressure.

Initially the components suggested 'excessive stretching/tension'; over time the compound evolved in medical contexts to mean 'abnormally high blood pressure' and more generally 'excessive pressure' in a bodily system.