'modem-optimized' originates from the combination of 'modem' and 'optimized', where 'modem' refers to a device that modulates and demodulates signals for data transmission, and 'optimized' means made as effective as possible.

The term 'modem' comes from the words 'modulator' and 'demodulator', while 'optimized' is derived from the Latin 'optimus', meaning 'best'.

Initially, 'optimized' meant 'made the best', and in the context of 'modem-optimized', it evolved to mean 'configured for best performance with modems'.