'sex' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'sexus' meaning 'gender/sexual distinction'; 'drive' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'drīfan' where the root meant 'to drive, urge'; 'enhance' originates from Old French 'enhauncer' (from Vulgar Latin/Latin roots), where the prefix 'en-' meant 'in/into' and the root related to 'altus' meant 'high' or 'to raise'.

'sex' came into English via Old French 'sexe' from Latin 'sexus'; 'drive' comes from Old English 'drīfan' and evolved through Middle English into modern 'drive'; 'enhance' evolved from Old French 'enhauncer' (Middle English 'enhauncen') into modern English 'enhance'; the compound 'sex-drive-enhancing' is a Modern English formation combining the noun phrase 'sex drive' with the present-participial adjective 'enhancing'.

Initially, components like 'enhance' meant 'raise or make high' (from senses of 'altus'), and 'drive' meant 'to force or urge'; over time these combined in Modern English to yield the current meaning of 'increasing sexual desire'.