'underprepared' originates from the prefix 'under-' meaning 'not enough' and the word 'prepared' from Latin 'praeparare', where 'prae-' meant 'before' and 'parare' meant 'to make ready'.

'underprepared' evolved from the combination of 'under-' and 'prepared', which was influenced by the Latin 'praeparare'.

Initially, it meant 'not sufficiently made ready', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.