'unsteady' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'unstædig,' where 'un-' meant 'not' and 'stædig' meant 'firm or stable.' 'Progress' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'progressus,' where 'pro-' meant 'forward' and 'gradi' meant 'to step.'

'unstædig' transformed into the Middle English word 'unstedi,' and eventually became the modern English word 'unsteady.' 'Progressus' transformed into the Old French word 'progres,' and eventually became the modern English word 'progress.'

Initially, 'unsteady' meant 'not firm or stable,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage. 'Progress' initially meant 'to step forward,' and this meaning has evolved to include the idea of advancement or development.