'often-changed' is a compound word formed from 'often' and 'changed'. 'Often' originates from Old English 'oft', meaning 'frequently', and 'changed' is the past participle of 'change', which comes from Old French 'changier', meaning 'to alter'.

'Often' evolved from Old English 'oft' and 'changed' from Old French 'changier', eventually forming the modern English compound 'often-changed'.

Initially, 'often' meant 'frequently', and 'changed' meant 'altered'. The compound 'often-changed' retains these meanings, indicating something frequently altered.