'non-cancerous' originates from the prefix 'non-' meaning 'not' and the word 'cancerous,' which comes from Latin 'cancerosus,' meaning 'pertaining to cancer.'

'cancerosus' transformed into the Old French word 'cancerous,' and eventually became the modern English word 'cancerous.' The prefix 'non-' was added to form 'non-cancerous.'

Initially, 'cancerous' meant 'pertaining to cancer,' and 'non-cancerous' has consistently meant 'not having the properties of cancer.'