record-low

The word 'record-low' is a modern English compound adjective formed in the 20th century, combining two established English words to create a specific, comparative meaning. The first element, 'record', originates from the Latin 'recordari' (to remember), which itself is built from 're-' (again) and 'cor' (heart, mind), metaphorically meaning to call back to mind. The second element, 'low', has Germanic roots, from Old Norse 'lágr', describing a position or degree that is not elevated. The compound's logic is transparent: it literally denotes a measurement that is low enough to be registered or noted down as an official benchmark, with the implied sense of surpassing all previous such measurements. This formation follows a common pattern in English for creating precise descriptive terms, especially in fields like meteorology, economics, and data analysis.

Structure: record (to register) + low (not high) record: From Latin 'recordari' (to remember, call to mind), via Anglo-French 'recorder'. In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning a documented fact or measurement. low: From Old Norse 'lágr', meaning not high or tall, near the ground, or of small amount.