'significantly-altered' originates from the combination of 'significant' and 'altered'. 'Significant' comes from Latin 'significare', meaning 'to signify', and 'altered' comes from Latin 'alterare', meaning 'to change'.

'significantly' evolved from the Latin 'significare' through Old French 'signifier', and 'altered' evolved from Latin 'alterare' through Old French 'alterer'.

Initially, 'significant' meant 'having meaning', and 'altered' meant 'changed'. Together, they evolved to mean 'changed in a way that is important or noticeable'.