'purposefully-saved' originates from the combination of 'purposefully' and 'saved', where 'purposefully' is derived from 'purpose' meaning 'intention' and '-fully' indicating 'in a manner of'.

'purposefully' evolved from the Middle English 'purpos', and 'saved' from the Old English 'safian', eventually forming the modern English term 'purposefully-saved'.

Initially, it meant 'intentionally preserved', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.