'antiseptic' originates from Neo-Latin 'antisepticus' and French 'antiseptique', ultimately from Greek 'antiseptikos', where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'septikos' (from 'sepein') meant 'to rot'.

'antiseptic' entered English in the 19th century from French 'antiseptique' and Neo-Latin 'antisepticus'; the adverb 'antiseptically' was formed by adding the adverbial suffix '-ally' to the adjective 'antiseptic'.

Initially, the elements referred to being 'against rotting' or 'preventing putrefaction'; over time the meaning evolved to the broader modern sense of 'preventing infection or contamination', and 'antiseptically' now means 'in a manner that prevents infection'.