In the world of golf, the term “below par” signifies excellence, but why does “subpar” have a negative connotation? To unravel this linguistic mystery, we must trace back to the Latin adjective par, which denoted “equal” or “even”. This term made its way into Old French during the 1200s before being adopted into English in 1601 within the realm of economics, specifically referring to currency exchange rates between nations. Over time, the term evolved to also signify “average”, as demonstrated in the aforementioned examples. Additionally, par could denote “equal” or “normal”, as seen in the popular expression par for the course. Interestingly, the exact origins of the Latin word par remain uncertain. While some suggest a connection to the Proto-Indo-European term perh, meaning “exchange”, discrepancies in sound change rules cast doubt on this theory, leaving room for the possibility of a non-Indo-European lineage.
