The compound adjective 'tax-supported' is a modern, transparent construction built from established English components. The first element, 'tax', carries its long-standing meaning of a compulsory levy, tracing its logic to the Latin concept of assessment. The second element, 'support', retains its core sense of providing a foundation or sustenance, derived from the literal Latin idea of carrying from below. The suffix '-ed' attaches to the verb to create a participial adjective, a productive pattern in English. Thus, the word's literal meaning, "maintained by tax revenue," directly and logically reflects its modern abstract usage, describing entities like public institutions or services funded through compulsory public contributions.

Structure: tax (payment) + support (maintain) + ed (adjective suffix) - tax: From Latin taxare ("to appraise, handle, censure"), via Old French. In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning a compulsory contribution to state revenue. - support: From Latin supportare ("to carry, bring up, convey"), from sub- ("up from under") + portare ("to carry"). In this compound, it functions as a verb meaning to provide the funds for something. - ed: A Germanic suffix (Old English -ed, -od, -ad) used to form adjectives from verbs or nouns, indicating a state or condition.