the compound adjective 'wholly-owned' is a modern business term formed by combining the adverb 'wholly', meaning entirely, with the past participle 'owned'. 'Wholly' originates from the old english 'hāl', meaning sound, whole, or uninjured, which evolved to signify completeness. 'Own' derives from old english 'āgen', meaning possessed or belonging to oneself. the term's logic is transparent: it describes an asset, typically a subsidiary company, that is completely (wholly) in the possession (owned) of another entity, leaving no share of ownership to outside parties.

Structure: wholly (entirely) + owned (possessed) wholly (from middle english 'holliche', old english 'hāllīċe', meaning 'entirely, completely', an adverb derived from 'whole'); owned (past participle of 'own', from old english 'āgnian', meaning 'to possess, have as property').