'well-anchored' is a compound formed from 'well' and 'anchor'. 'well' originates from Old English 'wel', where it meant 'in a good or satisfactory way'; 'anchor' originates from Old English 'ancor', borrowed from Latin 'ancora'.

'anchor' traces back from Latin 'ancora' to Greek 'ankura'. The Latin and Greek words referred to the device used to secure a ship; Old English adopted it as 'ancor', and it developed into Middle English and modern English 'anchor'. The compound 'well-anchored' is a modern adjective built from these elements.

Initially 'anchor' denoted a physical object used to hold a ship in place; over time its meaning extended metaphorically to denote anything that secures or stabilizes. 'well' has long meant 'in a good way', so the compound came to mean 'securely fixed' both literally and figuratively.