'pericenter' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the elements 'peri-' and 'kentron', where 'peri-' meant 'around' and 'kentron' meant 'center'.

'pericenter' changed from New Latin/Modern scientific coinages combining Greek elements (e.g. Latinized forms like 'pericentrum') and eventually became the modern English word 'pericenter'.

Initially it meant 'around the center' (from its Greek elements), but over time it evolved into the technical astronomical meaning 'the point in an orbit nearest the center of attraction'.