'carefully-selected' originates from the combination of 'carefully' and 'selected', where 'carefully' is derived from 'care' meaning 'attention' and '-fully' indicating 'in a manner of'. 'Selected' comes from Latin 'selectus', meaning 'chosen'.

'carefully' evolved from Middle English 'careful', and 'selected' from Latin 'selectus', through Old French 'selecter'.

Initially, 'carefully-selected' meant 'chosen with care', and this meaning has remained consistent over time.