'wear-promoting' originates from English, specifically formed by combining the noun 'wear' and the present participle 'promoting' (from the verb 'promote'). 'wear' ultimately comes from Old English words meaning 'to wear, carry', and 'promote' comes from Latin 'promovere' meaning 'to move forward' or 'advance'.

'promote' changed from Latin 'promovere' to Old French (e.g. 'promouvoir') and then to Middle/Modern English forms such as 'promote'; 'wear' evolved from Old English forms (e.g. 'werian'/'werian' and related Germanic roots) to Middle English and then modern 'wear'. The compound 'wear-promoting' is a modern English formation combining these elements.

Initially, the components meant 'to carry or use on the body' (for 'wear') and 'to move forward or advance' (for 'promote'); over time the compound has come to mean specifically 'tending to cause or accelerate material wear' in technical and descriptive contexts.