'intentionally-held' originates from the combination of 'intentionally' and 'held', where 'intentionally' comes from Latin 'intentio', meaning 'a stretching out', and 'held' is the past participle of 'hold', from Old English 'healdan', meaning 'to keep, observe'.

'intentionally' evolved from Middle English 'entencioun', and 'held' from Old English 'healdan', eventually forming the modern English term 'intentionally-held'.

Initially, 'intentionally' meant 'with intention or purpose', and 'held' meant 'kept or maintained'. The combined term 'intentionally-held' retains this meaning of deliberate maintenance.