The compound 'year-earlier' is a modern analytical construction in English, combining two fundamental temporal concepts. The first element, 'year', is an ancient word tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root concerning the cycle of seasons. The second element, 'earlier', is built on the Old English adverb 'ǣrlice' (soon), with the comparative suffix '-er' added to indicate precedence. The logic of the compound is transparent and comparative: it literally denotes something occurring "one year more soon/before" a given date or event. This straightforward morphemic combination allows for precise temporal comparison without the need for a single, fused lexical unit, showcasing English's propensity for creating clear, compound modifiers.

Structure: year (time period) + earlier (comparative form) - year: From Old English 'gēar', meaning a cycle of seasons, a period of twelve months. Its ultimate origin is Proto-Germanic jǣram and Proto-Indo-European yēr-o-, likely meaning "year, summer." - earlier: The comparative form of 'early'. 'Early' comes from Old English 'ǣrlice', meaning "soon," from 'ǣr' (soon, before). The suffix '-ly' forms adverbs, and the comparative suffix '-er' is added to form 'earlier'.