'vaguely-expressed' originates from the combination of 'vague' and 'expressed'. 'Vague' comes from Latin 'vagus', meaning 'wandering' or 'uncertain', and 'expressed' is derived from Latin 'expressus', meaning 'to press out'.

'Vague' changed from the Latin word 'vagus' to the Old French 'vague', and eventually became the modern English word 'vague'. 'Expressed' evolved from Latin 'expressus' to Middle English 'expressen'.

Initially, 'vague' meant 'wandering' or 'uncertain', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'not clearly expressed'.