'rightfully-awarded' originates from the combination of 'rightfully' and 'awarded'. 'Rightfully' comes from 'right', which has Old English origins in 'riht', meaning 'just' or 'fair'. 'Awarded' comes from the Old French 'eswarder', meaning 'to judge'.

'Rightfully' evolved from Old English 'rihtlice', and 'awarded' from Old French 'eswarder', eventually forming the modern English compound 'rightfully-awarded'.

Initially, 'rightfully' meant 'in a just manner', and 'awarded' meant 'to judge or decide'. Together, they evolved to mean 'given in a fair manner'.