'zymic' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'zymē', where 'zymē' meant 'leaven' or 'fermentation', combined with the suffix '-ic' (from Greek/Latin) meaning 'pertaining to'.

'zymic' changed from the New Latin/Scientific Latin term 'zymicus' and was adopted into English in technical and scientific contexts (19th century onward) as 'zymic'.

Initially, it meant 'pertaining to leaven or fermentation', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.