'cathodal' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'kathodos', where 'kath-' meant 'down' and 'hodos' meant 'way'.

'cathodal' changed from the Modern English formation 'cathode' + suffix '-al' and eventually became the modern English word 'cathodal'.

Initially, it referred to the idea of a 'descent' or 'way down' (from Greek 'kathodos'), but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'relating to a cathode or cathodic action'.