'underdevelopment' originates from the prefix 'under-' meaning 'below' and the root 'development' from Latin 'developare', where 'de-' meant 'un-' and 'volupare' meant 'to wrap'.

'underdevelopment' changed from the Old French word 'desveloper' and eventually became the modern English word 'development'.

Initially, it meant 'to unwrap or unfold', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'the process of developing or being developed'.