## Etymology
From under- ('beneath') + score ('a line, mark'), from Old Norse skor ('notch, tally'), from Proto-Germanic *skurō, related to shear. The figurative sense 'to emphasize' arises from drawing a line under text for stress.

## AI Etymology
Underscore comes from under- ('beneath') + score ('a line, mark'), from Old Norse skor ('notch, tally'), from Proto-Germanic *skurō, related to shear. The figurative sense 'to emphasize' arises from drawing a line under text for stress. The historical trail runs through Old English under, Old Norse skor and Proto-Germanic *skurō. Morphologically, the surface form is analyzable into prefixes, suffixes, compounds, or participial endings that carry part of the history. The later sense follows a semantic development already present in the word's history. In modern use it means to emphasize; to draw a line beneath text. Derived formations include underscored, underscoring; related forms include score, underline.

## Topics
- Communication

markdown

underscore

Meanings

Thesaurus

Etymology

Topics

External links

Keyboard Shortcuts

General

Send feedback