'carefully-handled' originates from the combination of 'carefully' and 'handled', where 'carefully' is derived from 'care' meaning 'attention' and '-fully' indicating 'in a manner of'. 'Handled' comes from 'handle', meaning 'to manage or deal with'.

'Carefully' evolved from Middle English 'careful', and 'handle' from Old English 'handlian'.

Initially, 'carefully' meant 'full of care', and 'handle' meant 'to touch or feel with the hands'. Over time, 'carefully-handled' evolved to mean 'managed with caution'.