'pre-recorded' originates from the prefix 'pre-' meaning 'before' and the verb 'record' from Latin 'recordari', where 're-' meant 'again' and 'cordis' meant 'heart'.

'recordari' transformed into the Old French word 'recorder', and eventually became the modern English word 'record'. The prefix 'pre-' was added to indicate the action was done beforehand.

Initially, 'record' meant 'to remember or recall', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to capture sound or images'.