'suitably-modified' originates from the combination of 'suitably' and 'modified'. 'Suitably' comes from 'suitable', which originates from the Latin word 'suitabilis', meaning 'fit or appropriate'. 'Modified' comes from the Latin word 'modificare', where 'modus' meant 'measure' and 'facere' meant 'to make'.

'Suitably-modified' evolved from the combination of 'suitably' and 'modified', which were used separately in Middle English and later combined in modern English.

Initially, 'suitably-modified' meant 'appropriately changed', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.