'subtractor' originates from Latin, specifically the verb 'subtrahere,' where 'sub-' meant 'from under' and 'trahere' meant 'to draw.' The English agentive suffix '-or' (from Latin) is added to form a noun meaning 'one who subtracts.'

'subtractor' developed from Latin 'subtrahere' (to draw away), through Late Latin and Middle English forms such as the verb 'subtract' (from Old French/Latin influence), with the agentive suffix '-or' producing the Modern English noun 'subtractor.'

Initially, the root meant 'to draw away/from under,' but over time it evolved into the current technical sense of 'one that takes away or computes the difference' (performs subtraction).