'insect-lover' is a modern English compound formed from 'insect' and 'lover'. 'Insect' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'insectum', where 'in-' meant 'into' and 'secare' (root) meant 'to cut'. 'Lover' originates from Old English, ultimately from 'lufian' meaning 'to love'.

'insect' came into English via Latin 'insectum' (literally 'cut into') and Middle French/Medieval Latin intermediaries; 'lover' descended from Old English 'lufere'/'lufian'. The compound 'insect-lover' is a straightforward modern compound combining these two elements in English.

Initially both elements had their original literal senses ('insect' referring to the segmented creature, 'lover' meaning one who loves). The compound 'insect-lover' has retained the straightforward meaning 'a person who loves insects' without significant semantic shift.