'carefully-preserved' is a compound word formed from 'carefully' and 'preserved'. 'Carefully' originates from the Old English 'carful', meaning 'full of care', and 'preserved' comes from the Latin 'praeservare', meaning 'to keep safe'.

'Carefully' evolved from the Old English 'carful', while 'preserved' evolved from the Latin 'praeservare', through Old French 'preserver', into Middle English 'preserven'.

Initially, 'carefully' meant 'full of care', and 'preserved' meant 'to keep safe'. The compound 'carefully-preserved' retains these meanings, emphasizing meticulous maintenance.