'well-aerated' originates from Modern English as a compound of the adverb 'well' and the past participle 'aerated'; 'well' comes from Old English 'wel', and 'aerated' ultimately traces to the Greek root 'aēr' meaning 'air'.

'well-aerated' developed from the phrase 'well aerated' combining English 'well' and the verb 'aerate'. The verb 'aerate' entered English via French 'aérer' and Neo-Latin formations from Greek 'aēr', producing the adjective 'aerated' and then the compound 'well-aerated'.

Initially related to the action 'to supply with air' (the verb 'aerate'), it evolved to describe a state: 'supplied with air' or 'ventilated' as an adjective ('well-aerated').