'tolerance-producing' is a modern English compound formed from 'tolerance' + 'produce'. 'Tolerance' originates from Latin via Old French 'tolerer'/'tolerantia' meaning 'endurance' or 'forbearance', and 'produce' comes from Latin 'producere' meaning 'to lead or bring forth'.

'tolerance' entered English from Old French/Latin (Latin 'tolerantia') and developed into Middle English 'tolera(n)ce' before becoming modern 'tolerance'; 'produce' came from Latin 'producere' through Old French/Anglo-Norman and Middle English forms, and the two words were later combined in modern English compounds (X-producing) to form adjectival phrases like 'tolerance-producing'.

Initially 'tolerance' meant 'the ability to endure' or 'forbearance'; 'produce' meant 'to bring forth'; together in the modern compound they specifically mean 'bringing about tolerance' (physiological or social) rather than the older, broader senses.