'steadily-preserved' originates from the combination of 'steady' and 'preserve', where 'steady' means 'firmly fixed' and 'preserve' means 'to maintain in its original state'.

'Steadily-preserved' combines the Middle English 'stede' (place) and 'preserve' from Old French 'preserver', eventually forming the modern English term.

Initially, it meant 'to keep something in a fixed state', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.