'non-anise' is formed in English by prefixing 'non-' from Latin 'non' meaning 'not' to the word 'anise', which comes from Old French 'anis' (from Latin 'anisum').

'non-anise' was created in modern English by attaching the negative prefix 'non-' to 'anise'; 'anise' itself passed into English via Old French 'anis' and Latin 'anisum', originally from Greek 'ánison', later becoming English 'anise' in Middle English.

Initially a literal negative formation meaning 'not anise' (absence of anise), its usage has remained direct and literal to mean 'lacking anise flavor or properties'.