'downward-oriented' originates from the combination of 'downward' and 'oriented'. 'Downward' comes from Old English 'dūneweard', where 'dūne' meant 'down' and 'weard' meant 'toward'. 'Oriented' comes from Latin 'orientare', meaning 'to arrange or align'.

'Downward' evolved from Old English 'dūneweard' to Middle English 'dounward', and eventually became the modern English 'downward'. 'Oriented' evolved from Latin 'orientare' to Middle English 'orienten', and eventually became the modern English 'oriented'.

Initially, 'downward' meant 'toward a lower place', and 'oriented' meant 'aligned'. Together, they evolved to mean 'having a focus or direction that is oriented downwards'.