'yawn-inducing' is a compound word formed from 'yawn' and 'inducing'. 'Yawn' originates from Old English 'geonian', meaning 'to open the mouth wide'. 'Inducing' comes from Latin 'inducere', meaning 'to lead into'.

'Yawn' changed from Old English 'geonian' to Middle English 'yenen', eventually becoming the modern English word 'yawn'. 'Inducing' evolved from Latin 'inducere' to Middle English 'inducen', leading to the modern form 'induce'.

Initially, 'yawn' meant 'to open the mouth wide', and 'inducing' meant 'to lead into'. Together, they evolved to mean 'causing yawning or boredom'.