Definition of the word subscript

The term "subscript" refers to a number or symbol that is written slightly below the main text in mathematical notation. The word "subscript" is derived from the Latin prefix "sub", meaning "beneath" or "under". This prefix is added to the word "script", which in Latin meant "written" or "written down". In the early days of mathematics, scripts (such as the Greek alphabet) were mostly written by hand using a pen or a stylus on a clay or papyrus tablet. To denote lowercase letters used as indices or exponents, authors started lowering the letters slightly below the main text, giving rise to the term "subscript". This notation allowed for a clear distinction between the lowercase letters used as indices and the uppercase letters used as variables in equations. Over time, as mathematical notation evolved, the need for subscripting also increased, as new symbols and operators were introduced. Nowadays, mathematical software programs and typesetting systems automatically adjust the position of subscripts and superscripts to make the equations more legible and easier to read.