'unsubscribe' originates from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' or 'opposite of' and the word 'subscribe', which comes from Latin 'subscribere', where 'sub-' meant 'under' and 'scribere' meant 'to write'.

'subscribere' transformed into the Old French word 'subscrivre', and eventually became the modern English word 'subscribe'. The prefix 'un-' was added to form 'unsubscribe'.

Initially, 'subscribe' meant 'to write underneath', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to agree to receive or participate in something'. 'Unsubscribe' thus means to reverse this action.