'polar-wise' is formed in modern English by combining 'polar' and the suffix '-wise' (meaning 'in the manner of' or 'with regard to'). 'Polar' comes from Latin 'polaris' meaning 'of the pole', and '-wise' derives from Old English 'wīs(e)' related to manner or way.

'polar' originates from Latin 'polaris', ultimately from Greek 'pólos' (pivot, axis). The adverbial/derivational suffix '-wise' comes from Old English 'wīsan'/'wīs', and the productive modern pattern (X-wise meaning 'with regard to X') developed in Middle to Modern English; combining them produced formations like 'polar-wise' in recent colloquial/technical usage.

Initially, 'polar' meant 'of or relating to a pole'; adding '-wise' gave a construction meaning 'with respect to that pole or polarity'. Over time the compound has been used both literally (about geographic or magnetic poles) and figuratively (about oppositeness or polarity) as it is used today.