'syntax-neutral' originates from the combination of 'syntax,' which comes from the Greek word 'syntaxis,' meaning 'arrangement,' and 'neutral,' from the Latin 'neutralis,' meaning 'of neither gender.'

'Syntax' evolved from the Greek 'syntaxis' to the Latin 'syntaxis,' and eventually became the modern English 'syntax.' 'Neutral' evolved from the Latin 'neutralis' to the Old French 'neutral,' and eventually became the modern English 'neutral.'

Initially, 'syntax' referred to the arrangement of words, while 'neutral' meant 'of neither gender.' Together, 'syntax-neutral' evolved to mean 'not favoring any syntactic structure.'