'well-lit' originates from the combination of 'well' and 'lit', where 'well' is an adverb meaning 'in a good or satisfactory way' and 'lit' is the past participle of 'light', meaning 'to illuminate'.

'well-lit' changed from the Old English word 'leoht' (light) and eventually became the modern English word 'lit' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'illuminated in a good way', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.