'openly-disclosed' originates from English, combining the adverb 'openly' (from 'open' + the adverbial suffix '-ly') and the past participle 'disclosed' (from the verb 'disclose,' ultimately from Old French 'desclore' and Latin elements 'dis-' meaning 'apart' and 'claudere' meaning 'to shut').

'Openly' developed in Middle and Early Modern English from 'open' + '-ly', while 'disclose' entered Middle English via Old French 'desclore.' Over time, the participle 'disclosed' came to be used attributively, and writers began hyphenating the adverb–participle combination as 'openly-disclosed' when used before a noun.

Initially, 'disclose' meant 'to uncover or reveal.' The compound adjective emphasizes that the disclosure is done 'openly'—i.e., publicly and transparently—preserving the original sense of revealing while adding the nuance of transparency.