'capriciously-directed' originates from an English compound of 'capriciously' and 'directed'. 'capriciously' derives from 'capricious' (ultimately from Italian 'capriccio'), where 'capriccio' conveyed a sense of a sudden change or whim; 'directed' is the past participle of 'direct', which originates from Latin 'directus' (from 'dirigere') meaning 'to guide' or 'to make straight'.

'capricious' entered English via Italian and French influence (Italian 'capriccio' → French/English borrowings) and came to mean sudden or unpredictable change of mind; 'direct' evolved from Latin 'dirigere' through Old French and Middle English into modern English 'direct', whose past participle 'directed' is used to indicate guidance or control. The modern compound 'capriciously-directed' arose in contemporary English by combining these elements to describe guidance characterized by caprice.

Initially, 'capricious' referred to a sudden caprice or change (from Italian usage) and 'direct' originally meant to guide or straighten (from Latin). Over time, combining them produced the current nuance of being 'guided or controlled by whim', focusing on unpredictability in the direction or control.