'sporadically-maintained' originates from the combination of 'sporadic' and 'maintained'. 'Sporadic' comes from the Greek word 'sporadikos', meaning 'scattered'. 'Maintained' is derived from the Latin word 'manutenere', where 'manu' meant 'hand' and 'tenere' meant 'to hold'.

'Sporadic' changed from the Greek word 'sporadikos' to the modern English word 'sporadic'. 'Maintained' evolved from the Latin 'manutenere' to the Old French 'maintenir', and eventually became the modern English word 'maintain'.

Initially, 'sporadic' meant 'scattered or dispersed', and 'maintained' meant 'to hold in the hand'. Over time, 'sporadically-maintained' evolved to mean 'kept in good condition only at irregular intervals'.