'clinically-directed' originates from 'clinical' and 'directed', where 'clinical' is derived from the Greek word 'klinein', meaning 'to lean' or 'to recline', and 'directed' comes from the Latin word 'directus', meaning 'straight' or 'guided'.

'clinically-directed' evolved from the combination of 'clinical' and 'directed', reflecting a focus on medical or therapeutic guidance.

Initially, it meant 'guided by clinical methods', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.