'cathodic' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'kathodos', where 'kata-' meant 'down' and 'hodos' meant 'way'; the adjective was formed by adding the suffix '-ic' to 'cathode'.

'cathodic' developed from the noun 'cathode' (coined in the 19th century from Ancient Greek 'kathodos') with the addition of the adjectival suffix '-ic', producing the modern English adjective 'cathodic'.

Initially rooted in the Greek idea of a 'descent' or 'way down', the term evolved in scientific usage to mean 'relating to the cathode' and more specifically 'associated with reduction' in electrochemistry.