'sympatholytic' originates from 'sympathetic' and the Greek word 'lytikos,' where 'sympathetic' refers to the sympathetic nervous system and 'lytikos' means 'able to loosen or dissolve.'

'sympatholytic' was formed by combining 'sympathetic' with the Greek-derived suffix '-lytic,' indicating its function in inhibiting the sympathetic nervous system.

Initially, it meant 'inhibiting the sympathetic nervous system,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.