'inward-curved' originates from a combination of Old English and Latin-derived words: specifically Old English 'inweard' (for 'inward'), and Latin 'curvus' via Old French/Middle English (for 'curve'), where the Old English element 'in-' meant 'in/into' and Latin 'curvus' meant 'bent'.

'inward' comes from Old English 'inweard' (modern English 'inward'); 'curve' comes from Latin 'curvus', passed into Old French and Middle English as forms like 'curve'/'curven'; the modern compound adjective 'inward-curved' developed in Modern English by combining these elements to describe something bent toward the inside.

Initially the components meant 'toward the inside' (inward) and 'bent' (curved); over time the compound has retained this basic literal meaning of 'bent inward' and has also been used metaphorically to describe inward orientation or tendency.