'pro-authoritarianism' is a compound formed from the prefix 'pro-' and the noun 'authoritarianism'. 'Pro-' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'pro', where 'pro' meant 'for'. 'Authoritarianism' originates from French 'autoritaire', ultimately from Latin 'auctoritas' (via Medieval Latin), where 'auctor'/'auctoritas' related to 'author' or 'authority'.

'pro-authoritarianism' developed in modern English by combining the productive prefix 'pro-' (meaning 'for') with the established English noun 'authoritarianism' (itself from French 'autoritaire' and Latin 'auctoritas'), yielding the compound meaning 'being for authoritarian rule'.

The elements individually meant 'for' (pro-) and 'rule/authority' (from 'auctoritas'). When combined in modern usage, the meaning settled as 'support for authoritarian rule' without major shifts from the components' senses.