'seldom-quoted' is a modern compound formed from the adverb 'seldom' and the past participle 'quoted' (from 'quote'). 'seldom' originates from Old English 'seldum' meaning 'rarely', while 'quote' ultimately comes from Latin 'quotare' (via Medieval Latin and Middle English) meaning 'to mark by number' or 'to cite'.

'seldom' developed from Old English 'seldum' and related forms and has retained the sense 'rarely'; 'quote' entered English via Medieval Latin 'quotare' (and related Old French influence) and Middle English as 'quote'/'couten' before becoming the modern verb 'quote' and past form 'quoted'. The compound 'seldom-quoted' is a straightforward modern English adjective built from these elements.

Individually, 'seldom' originally meant 'rarely' and has kept that meaning; 'quote' originally meant 'to mark or number' and shifted toward 'to repeat or cite words'—together they form the current meaning 'rarely cited or repeated'.