'spirit-cultic' originates from Modern English as a compound of 'spirit' and 'cultic'; 'spirit' ultimately comes from Latin 'spiritus' (where 'spiritus' meant 'breath, soul, spirit') and 'cultic' comes from Latin 'cultus' (where 'cultus' meant 'care, cultivation, worship').

'cultic' developed from Latin 'cultus' via Old French/Medieval Latin forms (Old French 'culte', Medieval Latin 'cultus') into English 'cult' and the adjective 'cultic' in Modern English; 'spirit' entered English from Latin 'spiritus' through Old French/Anglo-French into Middle English 'spirit', and the compound 'spirit-cultic' is a Modern English formation combining these elements.

Initially the roots referred separately to 'breath/soul' (spiritus) and 'care/worship' (cultus); over time the compound came to denote specifically practices or characteristics of worship focused on spirits (i.e., spirit-oriented cultic practices).