underachievement en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Indo-European *-tér Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér Proto-Indo-European *h₂én Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-? Proto-Indo-European *-dʰi ? Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dʰí Proto-Indo-European *-ér Proto-Indo-European *(H)n̥dʰér Proto-Germanic *under Proto-West Germanic *undar Old English under- Middle English under- English under- Vulgar Latin *accapāre Old French achever Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥tom Proto-Italic *-mentom Latin -mentum Old French -ment Old French achevement Middle French achevementbor. English achievement English underachievement From under- + achievement.
Meanings
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(countable, uncountable) An achievement that is less than expected; underperformance.
This underachievement is linked to a laddish culture […]
2006, Carolyn Jackson, Lads and Ladettes in School: Gender and a Fear of Failure:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| underachievements | Number=Plur | lexicographic |