'opposite-leaved' originates from the combination of 'opposite' and 'leaved', where 'opposite' meant 'placed or located directly across from something else' and 'leaved' refers to the presence of leaves.

'opposite-leaved' changed from the Old English word 'leaved' combined with 'opposite', eventually becoming the modern English word 'opposite-leaved'.

Initially, it meant 'having leaves directly across from each other', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.