Where does “малообеспеченный” come from?

малообеспеченный (Russian) comes from Russian ма́лый, from Old East Slavic малъ, from Proto-Slavic malъ, from Proto-Indo-European (s)mal- — small; little.

малообеспеченный (Russian): needy, poor, poverty-stricken

Definitions

  1. needy, poor, poverty-stricken

Ancestry of “малообеспеченный”, step by step

малообеспеченный traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Russian ма́лый

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianма́лыйlittle, not much; small
2Old East Slavicмалъsmall
3Proto-Slavicmalъsmall; little
4Proto-Indo-European(s)mal-small; little

via Russian обеспе́ченный

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianобеспе́ченныйwell-off, affluent
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)mal-Every word from Proto-Slavic malъEvery word from Old East Slavic малъ
малообеспеченный — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer