'unicentric' originates from Latin and Greek, specifically the Latin prefix 'uni-' from 'unus' and the Greek word 'kentrón' (via Late Latin/Medieval Latin forms that produced '-centric'), where 'uni-' meant 'one' and 'kentrón' meant 'center (sharp point)'.

'unicentric' changed from the combining elements 'uni-' (Latin) + 'centric' (from Late Latin/Medieval Latin 'centricus' < Greek 'kentrón') and eventually became the modern English word 'unicentric'.

Initially, it meant 'having a single center', and over time this sense has remained largely unchanged in modern usage.