'pleasure-averse' is a modern English compound formed from 'pleasure' + 'averse'. 'Pleasure' ultimately comes from Old French 'plaisir' (from Latin 'placēre'), meaning 'to please', and 'averse' comes from Latin 'aversus', the past participle of 'avertere' meaning 'to turn away'.

'pleasure' entered English via Old French 'plaisir', from Latin 'placēre' ('to please'). 'averse' entered English from Latin 'aversus' (from 'avertere' 'to turn away') through Old French/Medieval Latin forms; the modern compound 'pleasure-averse' is a recent English formation combining the two elements.

Individually, 'pleasure' meant 'that which pleases', and 'averse' originally meant 'turned away'. Over time, combined as 'pleasure-averse' it has come to mean 'turned away from pleasure' or 'disinclined toward pleasurable experiences.'