'stepwise-verified' originates from the combination of 'stepwise' and 'verified'. 'Stepwise' comes from 'step', meaning 'a stage in a process', and 'wise', meaning 'in the manner of'. 'Verified' comes from Latin 'verificare', meaning 'to make true'.

'stepwise' evolved from the Old English 'stæpe', meaning 'step', and 'wise', meaning 'manner'. 'Verified' evolved from the Latin 'verificare', which transformed into the Old French 'verifier', and eventually became the modern English 'verify'.

Initially, 'stepwise' meant 'in steps', and 'verified' meant 'to confirm truth'. Together, they evolved to mean 'confirmed through sequential steps'.