'suboptimally-separated' originates from the prefix 'sub-' meaning 'below' or 'less than', and 'optimally' from Latin 'optimus' meaning 'best'. 'Separated' comes from Latin 'separatus', meaning 'to divide'.

'suboptimally-separated' evolved from the combination of 'suboptimal' and 'separated', reflecting a less than ideal division.

Initially, it meant 'less than ideally divided', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.