'non-episcopal' originates from English, specifically the negative prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non' meaning 'not') combined with 'episcopal', which ultimately derives from Greek 'episkopos' meaning 'overseer'.

'episcopal' changed from Late Latin 'episcopalis' (from Greek 'episkopos') and eventually became the modern English adjective 'episcopal'; 'non-' was attached in English to form 'non-episcopal'.

Initially, 'episkopos' meant 'overseer' in Greek and 'episcopal/episcopalis' meant 'of or relating to a bishop'; the compound 'non-episcopal' has retained the negative sense as 'not relating to bishops'.