Early 19th century. From post-classical Latin perispomenon word having a circumflex accent, circumflex accent or its etymon Hellenistic Greek περισπώμενον, neuter present participle passive of περισπᾶν to pronounce (any syllable, especially the last syllable) with the circumflex accent, already in ancient Greek in sense to draw off or away, divert from περι- + σπᾶν to draw.