'weed-promoting' is a compound word formed from 'weed' and 'promoting'. 'Weed' originates from Old English 'wēod', meaning 'herb, grass, or plant'. 'Promoting' comes from Latin 'promovere', where 'pro-' meant 'forward' and 'movere' meant 'to move'.

'Weed' remained largely unchanged from Old English to modern English. 'Promovere' transformed into the Old French 'promouvoir', and eventually became the modern English 'promote'.

Initially, 'weed' referred to any plant, but over time it evolved to mean unwanted plants. 'Promoting' has largely retained its meaning of encouraging or advancing something.