The compound adjective 'then-record' is a modern journalistic formation, combining the temporal adverb 'then' with the noun 'record'. The adverb 'then' originates from the Old English demonstrative and temporal particle þonne, used to indicate a point in time relative to a context. The noun 'record' has a deeper history, stemming from the Latin verb recordari, meaning 'to remember, call to mind', itself derived from cor, cordis (heart), metaphorically the seat of memory. The semantic logic of the compound is transparent: it designates something that held the status of a 'record'—a best or extreme achievement—at that specified past time, effectively creating a snapshot label for historical data.

Structure: then (adverb) + record (noun) - then: From Old English þonne, þænne, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch dan and German dann. Functions as an adverb modifying the temporal aspect of the following noun. - record: From Old French recorder 'to remember, recount', from Latin recordari 'remember', from re- (again) + cor (heart). In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning 'a best performance or achievement'.