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

'cathodal' changed from Greek 'kathodos' into Latin/Neo-Latin forms such as 'cathodus' and then into English via the scientific term 'cathode', eventually forming the adjective 'cathodal' and the adverb 'cathodally'.

Initially, it meant 'descent' or 'downward path', but over time it evolved into a technical sense meaning 'relating to the cathode (the negatively charged electrode)'.